Canton Elections 2012: Sneideman, Yack to Join Canton Board of Trustees

One year removed from failing to keep his seat in a close Plymouth-Canton Board of Education race, Steven Sneideman had something to smile about Tuesday.

Sneideman, a former school board member and past school board president, led all candidates in Tuesday's election for the Canton Township Board of Trustees with nearly 22 percent of the vote. 

Sneideman, a Democrat, will join the board with Republican Thomas Yack, a former township supervisor seeking a return to the board. Republican incumbents Pat Williams and John Anthony also earned new terms, while Republican Gregory Demopoulos fell short in his bid to retain his seat on the board. 

"It’s surprising," Sneideman said of his vote total. "I was just hoping for fourth place."

Sneideman said Tuesday's win validated months of going door-to-door, meeting with potential constituents.

"I walked 5,000 doors myself and had volunteers walk another 5,000," Sneideman said. "For the past 12 weeks every night and every weekend day. that’s what I’ve been doing."

After a year off from holding public office, Sneideman said he's eager for the chance to again serve his community.

"My goal was to get on the board and I'm on the board and I'm looking forward to working with the rest of the team," he said.

Sneideman said the fact he is the only Democrat on the board won't be an issue.

"I think I can work with all of them," he said. "I'm all about working together and compromise. Most of the issues aren't party-line issues, anyway."

Among the issues Sneideman hopes to address in his first term include development of Cherry Hill Village and traffic improvements at Interstate 275 and Ford Road, he said.

Supervisor Philip LaJoy, Clerk Terry Bennett and Treasurer Melissa McLaughlin all ran unopposed and retained their seats.