The only three candidates running for three spots on the Hamtramck School Board were elected as trustees in last week’s election.
The newly elected members are incumbent board member Tazia Miah; Emad Shammakh, a pharmacy technician and graduate from the district; and Showkat Chowdhury, who previously served on the board.
Miah finished first with 2,500 votes, followed by Chowdhury with 2,324 and Shammakh with 2,093.
Despite the lack of competition, Hamtramck still made their choices known and supported the candidates.
In a social media post, Miah expressed gratitude to the voters who backed her.
“For many of you, I was someone new, and it has truly been an honor getting to know so many wonderful members of our Hamtramck community. I look forward to meeting even more of you as I begin this next chapter serving our schools, students, and families,” she said.
“I am especially proud and humbled to make history as the first Bengali-American woman elected in Hamtramck. This is not just a personal milestone, but a meaningful moment that I hope will inspire others in our community to believe in the power of their voices and the possibilities ahead.”
Shammakh released a similar message.
“As a proud graduate of Hamtramck High School, Class of 2012, this moment carries a special meaning for me. I once sat in the classrooms of this district as a student, and today I have the privilege of returning in a different capacity — not as a student, but as someone entrusted with helping shape the future of the very school system that helped shape me,” he said in a statement.
“I consider this more than an achievement. I consider it an opportunity to give back.”
Shammakh promised to work toward “academic excellence, greater educational opportunities, student health and wellness, transparency, and stronger relationships between our schools and the community.”
The election was non-partisan. The board oversees the affairs of the district, which serves more than 3,000 students across eight schools. The trustees also appoint the superintendent of the district.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) counted Miah, Chowdhury and Shammakh as three of 97 confirmed American Muslim electoral victories on November 3.
