Dan Griffith: Investing in North Canton's Future Is Key

Editor's Note: As part of North Canton Patch's local election coverage, we will provide profiles of each of the candidates running for office. These profiles will offer biographical and issue-oriented details about each of the candidates to help you, the voters, make more-informed decisions at the ballot box. We also will have a short video of each candidate that will help you learn more about them. Stay tuned for more coverage of the election.

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Name: Dan Griffith

Age: 34

Occupation: Attorney, Senior Trust Officer – Premier Bank & Trust

Education: B.A., Mount Union College; J.D., Ohio State Law School

Political Affiliation: Republican

Office Sought: Council at Large

Previous Political Office Sought or Held: Candidate, North Canton City Council, First Ward

Statement: North Canton is an outstanding place to live — with outstanding schools, premier safety services, great parks and an unmatched sense of community. I worry that people take these amazing civic attributes for granted — assuming that we will always be great just because we have always been great. 

The City of North Canton needs to be proactive. The best way to solve problems is to fix them before they happen. In city government, it is far too easy to spend a majority of the time solving yesterday’s problems rather than investing in tomorrow’s successes. I strongly support the creation of that would help us highlight our community assets and focus our energy toward several common goals.  We need a local government that isn’t just better than it was, but instead strives to be as good as it can be.

The city of North Canton needs to engage in strategic job creation. There are a number of things that make North Canton one of the best places to live in the country — good schools, excellent infrastructure, inexpensive utilities, a motivated workforce and, most importantly, a true sense of community. We need to identify the types of businesses that best fit with the resources that the community has to offer and spread that message throughout the world. We will be most effective when we bring various community groups into the fold on these efforts to demonstrate our collaborative spirit. 

The city of North Canton needs to retain premier safety services. No community will grow or prosper without an underlying sense of safety. Our , services are truly distinguished public servants and we need to be constantly doing what it takes to maintain that high level of service despite growing monetary restrictions. Part of this strategy includes the use of technology and other cutting-edge equipment that can often cut costs while savings lives. Most importantly, it is imperative that we do what it takes to recruit outstanding civil servants and support their efforts at excellence. 

My background and experience put me in an ideal position to help make these goals into a reality. I have a passion for problem solving and an ability to bring people together. As an attorney, and a small business owner, I understand what it takes to create a positive environment that will trigger business growth. The city of North Canton has many issues currently facing the community, but there will certainly be unforeseen challenges that arise in the near future. We need thoughtful, passionate, fair leaders who are unconcerned with who gets the credit for solving those problems. I am one of those people.