The 71-year-old was born and grew up in Bihar.
Indian politician Syed Shahabuddin’s brother Dr. Syed Taj is contesting elections to become the Supervisor of the town of Canton, in Michigan.
The Indian American Taj, 71, a Democrat, unsuccessfully ran for the US House of Representative four years ago, and is now trying his luck at the reins of the top post in Canton, a suburb of Detroit.
“We are running on the platform of diversity, transparency and accountability,” Taj told PTI during one of his campaign trails in the town which has a population of about 100,000 including more than 7,000 Indian Americans.
Taj is a former one-term township trustee, ex-Oakwood Hospital chief of medicine and small business owner, according to Hometownlife.
Taj said it took him about six months’ time working with the Democratic party to prepare a diversity coalition panel of seven top seats in the Canton township. Besides him, the panel includes one more Indian American, Dhaval Vaishnav, who is the president of the Temple of Canton.
“If we (immigrants) stick together, we can make the difference,” he told PTI, adding that it becomes more important at a time when Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, 70, has polarized the elections with his rhetoric and anti-immigrant statements.
“Donald Trump wants to make America Great Again which means make America White Again. This is no longer possible. The US is a country of immigrants. And he should realize that,” he said.
Taj was born and brought up in Gaya. After completing schooling from Bihar, he went to Ranchi at St Xavier’s. He earned his medical degrees from Patna Medical College in 1968.
Hometownlife reported that Taj will square off against Republican Pat Williams, a two-term trustee, automotive industry commercial sales manager and partner in a pet grooming products business, for the four-year term of Supervisor.
The winner in the Nov. 8 election will replace retiring Supervisor Phil LaJoy. Hometownlife.com asked the candidates to respond by email to questions voters have said are important to them. Crumbling roads and subdivision streets have consistently emerged among residents’ biggest concerns.
“I intend to listen to residents’ concerns and then find solutions to the problems on their streets,” Taj said. “The township can be a great advocate with both the county and private developers to help fix residential streets.”
Taj said he and a Democratic slate of township board hopefuls could potentially make advances after developing “a positive working relationship with (Wayne County Executive) Warren Evans and his staff. We will work with the county to identify available funds and seek creative ways for the township to help residents fix their roads.”
In response to a question about being the most qualified, Taj said he has dedicated his life to helping people. He served one four-year term as a part-time township trustee, has spent six years as a Canton Community Foundation board member and serves on the Senior Alliance board of directors.
“I am a leader and Canton needs a forward-thinking leader at this critical time for our community. Mounting issues of traffic, crumbling roads, tight township budgets, and the need for greater governmental transparency all require a leader that will work for everyone in Canton. I possess the right mix of experience and temperament Canton needs,” Taj said.