Oxford Leader Editor C.J. Carnacchio’s opinion writing skills earned him two “Excellence in Journalism” awards last week from the Detroit Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).

“As always, I have to give credit where credit is due and thank my lovely wife, Connie Miller, and the newspaper’s ownership, the Sherman family, for their unwavering support and bottomless well of understanding over the years,” said the 41-year-old Oxford Village resident. “It’s not easy living or working with me, so they’re the ones who deserve an award.”

Carnacchio’s “My Way” columns took first place in the General Column category.

“These columns were detailed without being pedestrian, blunt (sometimes crabby) and witty,” the judge wrote.

In the Editorial Writing category, Carnacchio earned second place for his Oct. 26, 2016 editorial, “Hate the tax, but support our schools.”

The opinion piece advocated a yes-vote on the Oxford school district’s non-homestead operating tax renewal and increase, but it also criticized the unfairness of the millage and called for residents to convince the state’s leadership to change this component of how public education is funded.

“Very complicated issue handled well,” the judge wrote.

All of Carnacchio’s SPJ awards were earned in Print Class C, which is for non-daily newspapers, magazines and trade publications with circulations less than 50,000.

Class C includes Crains’s Detroit Business, Grosse Pointe News, BLAC Detroit Magazine, Hour Detroit, Detroit Jewish News, and C&G Newspapers.

Since joining the Leader in May 1999 after graduating from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Carnacchio has now earned a total of 91 awards for his writing and photography skills from the Detroit SPJ, Michigan Press Association and the National Newspaper Association.