About Me
Why I am running for Macomb County Clerk
I took up the challenge of running for political office when I realized that the incumbent was uncontested. As a federal republic we can only remain a democracy when there is a choice between candidates. I aim to provide an alternative to the current career politician in office, offering integrity, transparency, and a commitment to responsible governance.
I am running for office due to my concerns regarding the incumbent's judgement in appointing an election denier, who has been photographed with a felon convicted of sedition, as the trainer for county poll observers. This decision reflects a lack of sound leadership and accountability. Click on the link below to learn about this:
Our Story
Introduction
I was born in Detroit, Michigan to a native Detroiter mother and an immigrant father from northern Iran. Raised amidst some economic and familial challenges, my early years were marked by my parents' separation and several moves within Macomb County. Despite these early obstacles and later challenges in school, I never stopped my pursuit of a formal education. I attended various public schools in Warren Consolidated, Utica, East Detroit, Mt. Clemens and Chippewa Valley school districts. Sadly, I never graduated high school and left Chippewa Valley in my junior year.
Military Service
At age 17, I took an important step and joined the US Army, serving from my 18th birthday in 1987 until July 1990. Stationed in Nuremberg, Germany, I served as an armored vehicle driver and FIST-V artillery targeting specialist. My military service included border duty on the Czech / German border during the historic events of 1989, including the fall of the Berlin Wall and the later collapse of Eastern European communism. Exposure to others who lacked our American freedoms, instilled in me a deep respect and gratitude for the liberties we Americans hold dear.
Education and Career Transition
While I served in Germany, I earned my GED. Upon completing my military service, I utilized the Montgomery GI Bill to support my college education. Balancing work and study, I apprenticed as a sheet metal model maker while attending Macomb Community College. Later, I transferred to Wayne State University and took employment at a manufacturing plant in Royal Oak where I was a union representative for our UAW Local 155. Upon graduating cum laude from Wayne State in 2001, I was hired by Chippewa Valley High School as a summer school teacher, having come full circle from my earlier years as a high school dropout.
Teaching Excellence
Over my 23-year tenure as a public educator, I have taught a diverse range of subjects including junior high school geography, German language, world history, and English language learners. My broad knowledge of world history led to teaching Advanced Placement (AP) World History, where I have served as a reader for the AP College Board for the past five years.
Personal Life and Professional Journey
During my time at Wayne State University, I met my wife Rachel, who shares my passion for education. We have two wonderful teenage children. We both embarked on careers as public educators in Macomb County, a path we continue to follow with dedication and pride. With over 23 years of experience in education, supported by my family and friends, I made the decision in April 2024 to take the next step into public service by running as a Democratic candidate for Macomb County Clerk and Register of Deeds
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Digitizing Education
I led the transition of our school district's curriculum to a digital platform, significantly enhancing learning flexibility and facilitating the smoothest possible transition to distance learning ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coaching and Leadership
For over 15 years, I have coached track, inspiring countless students to embrace distance running and achieve their athletic goals.
Student Engagement and Advocacy: I have actively contributed to our school community through leadership roles such as co-chair of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and chairperson of the student council at multiple junior high schools. Additionally, my commitment to student success is evident in my involvement with summer school and credit recovery programs, designed to support students in reclaiming lost credits and earning their high school diplomas.
Academic Achievement
I hold a Master of Arts in Linguistics, with a thesis focusing on the influence of Arabic on modern Persian. I have a passion for learning languages and frequently greet students and parents in their native tongue when I know it, this is a gesture that has consistently earned the respect of families who are new to the United States.