By Dean Vaglia
Leader Staff Writer
Nine Oxford Township residents have answered the call to replace the Board of Trustees seat left vacant by William Dunn’s resignation.
Open up by the township at the November board meeting, the nine applicants will appear before the board on Dec. 8 (tonight) to argue why they are the best fit for the position. Whoever is selected will hold it for the next year, when it will be up for election. Whoever wins the seat in 2022 will legislate until the 2024 election.
It is expected the board will make its decision at the Dec. 8 meeting to avoid holding a special election.
Candidates submitted resumes and letters of intent, all of which can be found in the Dec. 8 meeting packet starting on page 108.
The nine applicants in alphabetical order are as follows:
Ryan Austin: Owner of Birmingham Sealcoat, Austin has taken part in the labor, management and sales aspects of the business.
Mark Blankenship: An Engineering Manager at JR Automation, Keller-Williams Realtor and Vice President of the Davis Lake Homeowners Improvement Association.
Catherine Clovin: Township resident of 17 years, Clovin has served in various legal positions with Autoliv, the Volkswagen Group, Lear and Nexteer Automotive.
James Fiefield: Currently with Stelantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) as the “Advanced Topcoat Material and Process Engineer,” Fiefield’s work experience goes back to 2009. He has been in the Oxford community since 1996 and graduated from Oxford High School in 2006.
Sarah Racer: An EMT and Fire Inspector for the Oxford Fire Department and operator of a Gloria Jean’s Coffee shop. Racer also serves as an alternate on the township’s Zoning Board of Appeals and was a Fire Instructor at Oakland Community College.
Anthony Rizzo: 15-year member and current Vice President of the Library Board, the bulk of Rizzo’s experience comes from the world of heating and cooling as a technician and manager for several companies.
Ashley Ross: Member of the Oxford Village Council, Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and recently filling Mike Young’s vacant seat on the township Planning Commission, Ross has worked in myriad non-profit, museum and governmental positions since 2005.
Donald Scott: Worked in metal fabrication since 2012 and in finance from 2009 to 2012. He has attempted to run as a precinct delegate in Auburn Hills and states he has been involved with the Order of Elks and the Convention of States.
Justin Willcock: Moderator of Immanuel Congressional United Church of Christ since 2019, Willcock has worked with the DDA since 2020 and has operated a volunteering Facebook group and volunteering fair since 2018.