Hirak Chanda Appointed to Troy City Council
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 5, 2023)
Troy, MI – Hirak Chanda was appointed to Troy City Council Monday night, filling the vacancy left by AnnErickson Gault who was appointed to the County Commission following the passing of Commissioner Gary McGillivray.
Chanda is an automotive engineer, community activist, and 24 year resident of Troy. He immigrated to the United States from India. While raising his son in the Troy School District, Chanda has served the community by tutoring hundreds of students, and acting as a Troy Historic District Commissioner. He also served as the president of an Indian American cultural organization.
In the November election, Chanda was one of several candidates vying for three seats. He came in a close fourth in the contest, with just 43 fewer votes than the third place candidate.
In a city with a large immigrant population, Chanda is the South Asian American and first naturalized citizen to serve on the City Council. Dozens of supporters from diverse backgrounds attended the meeting in support of his appointment.
Among the supporters was Troy School Board trustee Vital Anne, who commented in a press release “I’m confident that Hirak will be an effective advocate for the needs of South Asians in Troy. Troy is a city that thrives on its diversity, and it is crucial that our City Council reflects this richness. His background and experiences uniquely position him to represent the interests of a wide range of constituents”.
“It is the honor of my lifetime to be appointed to the City Council. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Council to meet the needs of Troy residents”, Chanda said.
