Craig Olzak is running for the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Board of Education in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Three full-term seats are open in the nonpartisan contest, and voters may choose up to three candidates. Aamina Ahmed, Dan Lemieux and Joe Tollefson are also running.
Olzak responded to the Plymouth-Canton Post candidate questionnaire on Oct. 5. Unless otherwise noted, the information and responses below come from that questionnaire.
Asked why he is running, Olzak said he wants to advocate for neighborhood schools, responsible spending and openness in district leadership.
“To advocate for strong neighborhood schools, fiscal responsibility, and transparent leadership that puts our students and teachers first,” he wrote.
Candidate information
Residence: Olzak has lived in Canton for 23 years, according to his campaign website.
Education: Olzak reported earning a Bachelor of Science from Albion College, majoring in political science with a concentration in public service.
Occupation: Olzak said he has worked at Rocket Mortgage for 24 years in several roles.
“I'm currently a Product Manager which involves heavy emphasis on project management, operations, and budgeting,” he said.
Family: Olzak said his three children are recent graduates of district schools and his wife teaches at a middle school in the district.
On his campaign website, he also described how being the father of a son with special needs has shaped his support for inclusive education.
Previous elected or appointed office: Olzak reported none.
Experience and public service
Asked what accomplishments prepare him for the board, Olzak cited his professional experience managing budgets and projects.
“Successful track record of managing complex budgets, collaborating with diverse teams, and delivering large-scale projects on time,” he wrote.
Olzak is campaigning with the BOAT slate, whose name represents Booker, Olzak, Ahmed and Tollefson. His campaign website identifies Lester Booker Jr. as a candidate for a separate partial-term seat. Olzak, Ahmed and Tollefson are seeking full terms.
In his questionnaire, Olzak described the slate’s approach as focused on student outcomes and community agreement.
“We bring a unified, practical, results-driven approach focused on outcomes for all students and community consensus rather than political agendas,” he said.
On the issues
Academic achievement and student mental health: Olzak identified balancing academic success, student mental health and sound district finances as the district’s most pressing challenge.
He said spending decisions should prioritize classroom needs and support students’ academic growth.
School facilities and funding: Olzak supports seeking voter approval for a sinking fund to help address school facilities needs.
“Part of the solution will be for the district to successfully pass a sinking fund so that we can adequately compete with our neighboring districts,” he said.
A sinking fund is a voter-approved property tax that can pay for legally permitted capital expenses, including building improvements. It cannot pay for general operating expenses such as teacher salaries, according to Davison Community Schools’ explanation of Michigan sinking funds.
Olzak said he would seek responsible use of district resources to support academic growth and physical school upgrades.
Balancing competing priorities: Asked how the district should balance academics, mental health, safety and teacher recruitment and retention, Olzak emphasized using data and listening to people directly involved in the schools.
“By relying on clear data, prioritizing core classroom needs, and engaging directly with teachers, parents, and administrators to allocate taxpayer dollars effectively,” he said.
He also called for bringing community stakeholders into decisions and moving quickly to deliver results.
Endorsements
Olzak’s campaign website lists endorsements from the Michigan Education Association, Canton Democratic Club and CAPES — Canton and Plymouth Education Squad.
The Michigan Education Association’s published election recommendations also include Olzak.
His campaign lists individual supporters including district board members Anupam Chugh Sidhu and Patrick Kehoe, and Canton Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak.
Advice that guides him
“Ask questions, look for a better way, don't ever accept the first answer as the only option,” Olzak said.
This profile draws primarily on Craig Olzak’s responses to the Plymouth-Canton Post candidate questionnaire, with additional information from his campaign website, the Michigan Education Association and school district materials. Responses have been excerpted and paraphrased; direct quotations retain his wording.
