Syed Taj
Dr. Syed Saba Taj (born September 7, 1946) is a member of the Board of Trustees of Canton, Michigan, and was the Democratic nominee for for the 113th United States Congress. He stepped down from his post as Chief of Medicine at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn in March 2012 in order to concentrate on his campaign.
On August 7, Taj won the Democratic primary against LaRouche candidate William Roberts. In the general election on November 6, 2012, he lost against Republican Kerry Bentivolio.
Early life, education and career
Taj was born in Gaya, India, attended Patna University and Med School, worked for Bihar State Health Services, moved to the UK for postgraduate training in 1974, and moved to the United States in 1982 or 1983.
Taj worked his way up from medical resident to staff physician, vice-chief of medicine and finally Chief and Chairman of the Department Of Medicine, Oakwood Hospital.
Taj was elected as the only Democrat on the Canton Board of Trustees in 2008 with 20,000 votes, 18.63% of the total. In office he successfully worked with his Republican colleagues to lower property taxes and water bills. He also served on the board of directors of the Canton Community Foundation and the Wayne County Senior Alliance.
2012 Congressional campaign
On August 7th, 2012, he won the Democratic primary for Michigan's 11th District against LaRouche candidate William Roberts with 54.33% of the vote.
Taj is a Muslim and has been accused of "having ties to Islamic extremism" by Republicans because his campaign received a donation from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Taj denies having extremist sympathies and says that the Republican allegations are merely racial and religious slurs. Taj lost in the November general election to his Republican opponent, Kerry Bentivolio.
Political positions
According to a Plymouth-Canton Patch candidate survey, Taj supports tax incentives to hire new workers during recessions, eliminating tax loopholes, fair trade legislation, greater benefits for veterans, and tax reform. Taj has publicly supported the Affordable Care Act but plans to work to improve it in Congress. He also opposes privatizing Social Security and Medicare, and supports seeking other avenues to reduce costs and keep the programs solvent.
Personal life
Taj created a scholarship for Canton students through the Canton Community Foundation, and is a devout member of his community mosque. He came to Michigan to join his wife Sofia's family. She is an artist, author and poet. His son is studying at the University of Michigan in preparation for medical school.
Taj's family in India is also ACTIVE in politics, with one sibling serving in The INDIAN Parliament.
External links
- Syed Taj for U.S. Congress official campaign site
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org