By Danielle Smith

Leader Staff Writer

Oxford voters will see a familiar name on the August 2020 primary election ballot. This time, it will be under the category of township supervisor.

Jack Curtis, an Oxford Township resident who has lived in the community for 45 years, announced his candidacy for township supervisor and feels that his years of service in governmental roles in both the township and village, make him qualified for the position.

“I have been an elected Oxford Township trustee since 2012. Prior to that, I was appointed to the Oxford township planning commission in 2005,” Curtis said.

He has served on or chaired numerous committees for the township, including the water and sewer committee, economic development subcommittee, safety path committee, gravel inspection committee and the firefighters union contract negotiations committee. He’s also the Oakland County One Stop liaison and township’s liaison to the Village of Oxford Planning Commission. Curtis works closely with the Oxford Chamber of Commerce.

Curtis is a member of the Oxford High School career technical education program. Armed with his 38 years of experience in the automotive industry, Curtis brings insight and knowledge of current happenings around Oxford “to try to get things for our kids to be taught in school.” Curtis is a strong supporter of the district because he had four children graduate from OHS.

Aside from his experience in local government, Curtis believes his facts-and-data approach to analyzing issues will be beneficial when it comes to making decisions for the township.

“I’ve served in all of these positions and I use that to take facts and take our ordinances in their entirety and show you what is the best avenue . . . leaving my personal feelings out of it,” he continued. “It’s not (based on) an emotion: it’s not what I feel. It’s facts and data that guide it and the experiences I’ve had . . . have taught me how to do that.”

Curtis said he has “been working to give back to Oxford for the things it has given (him)” and if elected, he wants to “continue working toward the betterment of Oxford through proper development and bringing needed services to Oxford.” He also plans to continue fostering close relationships and effective communication between “all governmental entities.”

“We’re all from zip code 48371. It’s not the village, it’s not the township. While we each have slightly different ordinances, we have to understand those and work with the people in those parameters and not force your personal feelings on it,” he stated. “Take the ordinance, which is law, and (do what’s best) for the citizens, not for yourself, not for somebody else, but for the citizens.”

The current township supervisor, Bill Dunn, has not officially announced whether or not he plans to seek re-election.

Given that, Curtis felt it was important to toss his hat into the ring now, so there won’t be a leadership void should Dunn, who’s been supervisor since 1999, decide to retire next year.

“Not everyone thinks the same…and everybody is different, but the common goal is you have to have a great place to live and Oxford – Oxford Township (and) Oxford Village – is just a great place and I want to keep that growing,” Curtis said.