Another Oxford official has tossed his hat into the ring in the race to represent District 1 on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
This time it’s Oxford Village Councilman Tony Albensi. He’ll be running as a Republican in the August primary.
‘I think I can serve the residents of Oxford and the entire first district quite well,? he said. ‘I’ve gained some valuable experience with the village council.?
Albensi is the second Oxford official to declare his candidacy for the District 1 seat. Last year, township Trustee Joe Bunting announced his bid for it after changing his mind about running for the state House.
District 1, which includes about 48,000 residents, encompasses Oxford, Addison, Brandon and Groveland townships plus the villages of Oxford, Leonard and Ortonville. The district also includes two precincts in Independence Township.
Albensi, who earns his living designing retail inventory software for RGIS in Auburn Hills, was elected to council in September 2007. He’s lived in Oxford for almost 4? years.
The 41-year-old official insisted he didn’t get involved in local politics with the idea of someday seeking higher office.
‘I never really had any aspirations of going beyond village council,? he said. ‘I’ve enjoyed my time on council and continue to do so.?
But when ‘an opportunity presented itself,? Albensi decided he couldn’t pass it up.
That opportunity was current county Commissioner Brad Jacobsen’s decision to run for state Rep. Jim Marleau’s 46th District seat. Last year, Jacobsen, an Oxford Republican and Lake Orion business owner, announced his intention to run for state House in the August primary election.
Jacobsen’s decision to take a shot at moving up the political ladder got Albensi thinking.
‘After careful consideration and speaking with family and friends, I decided I wanted to do this because I want to serve in a greater capacity,? Albensi said. ‘I look forward to it . . . I hope that I can gain the confidence of District 1 voters.?
Albensi believes he can be an asset to the county board.
‘I’d like to think that I’ve brought some common sense to the village council and I think I can bring some common sense to the county commission,? he said. ‘I can bring some experience with budgets at the village level, which is important because the Number One priority of the county commission is to oversee the county budget.?
‘Mostly, I’d just like to bring some fiscal restraint and a fresh approach to the county commission,? he continued. ‘The biggest challenge facing the county is the declining property values and declining revenues. I believe the county has done quite well keeping their budgets under control.?
Continuing to keep those budgets under control is the most important thing, in Albensi’s opinion, and he would help do that by cutting wasteful spending and eliminating redundancies in county government.
‘The biggest job facing the commission is that budget,? he said.
The councilman believes government should always cut expenses before it even considers raising taxes. He made it clear he’s definitely opposed to any attempts to raise the county tax rate, which is currently 4.19 mills.
Last year, Albensi led the successful charge to reduce the village’s tax rate by a full mill, going from 11.12 to 10.12 mills.
‘I’m really proud of being able to lower our property tax,? he said.
He’s also proud of the fact he was part of the council that built the village’s new $2.5 million water treatment plant to replace the 30-year-old facility, most of which was outdated and not functioning properly.
‘That was a difficult decision at the time,? Albensi said.
Albensi indicated he’s demonstrated his ability to work with surrounding municipalities via his prior service on the Polly Ann Trail Management Council and the North Oakland Transportation Authority, both of which involve officials from Oxford, Addison and Orion townships plus their respective villages.
In order to appear on the August ballot, Albensi must submit his nominating petitions to the county clerk’s office by 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 11.
Technically, he could just pay a $100 filing fee, instead of gathering signatures, but Albensi, who enjoys talking to people, said he wants to do it the old-fashioned way.
‘It gives me an opportunity to get out there, get my name out there in the beginning, and meet some new people,? he said.