As a Democrat running for office in a GOP-dominated area, Brandon Galbraith has his work cut out for him, but he’s already convinced two Republican voters to support him ? Eileen and Gary Galbraith, a.k.a. Mom and Dad.
‘The funny thing is both my parents are Republicans,? said the 21-year-old Addison Township resident who’s running for the District 1 seat on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. ‘But they’re going to vote for me.?
‘My dad was very excited. He thought I was a little bit crazy at first, but he’s given me his full support,? Galbraith said. ‘My mom really hasn’t said a whole lot. But she probably will vote for me too.?
Galbraith, who lives on Manotic Road, has no Democratic opponents in Aug. 3 primary election, so he will face incumbent Bill Patterson (R-Oxford) in the November general election. Patterson also faces no opposition in the primary.
Distict 1 includes the townships of Addison, Oxford, Brandon, Groveland and a portion of Independence, and the villages of Oxford, Leonard and Ortonville.
The 2001 Oxford High graduate and current senior at Oakland University had nothing bad to say about Patterson.
‘I’ve heard a lot of nice things about him. . .that he’s a very nice guy,? said Galbraith, noting he is planning to have lunch with Patterson at some point.
But despite Patterson’s ‘nice guy? image, Galbraith said people he’s talked to ‘think it’s time for something different, somebody new.?
‘I’m under the impression that a lot of people are ready for new ideas,? he said. ‘And I’m open to new things. I want to hear what people have to say, what’s bothering them. If I can fix it, let’s fix it. That’s what I’m all about.?
One of the main things Galbraith would like to accomplish as county commissioner is increasing the amount of public services residents in the northern townships receive.
‘People don’t get anything out here,? he said.
Traffic control, maintenance of infrastructure and roads, and hazardous waster removal are some of the ‘service issues? Galbraith intends to raise public awareness about.
Galbraith said he’s also interested in ‘curbing urban sprawl? by studying the master plans of the municipalities located in District 1 and determining any ‘discrepancies? in the actual plans or in the way ‘they are being administered.?
‘Based on my findings, I would attempt to resolve loopholes that may exist to further control excessive urban development,? he said.
Galbraith decided to run for county commission after being asked by a friend with the Oakland County Democratic Party.
‘They were looking for candidates in this area and they asked me if I was interested,? he said. ‘I said yeah, I’m interested.?
‘I never saw myself being political, I never did,? said Galbraith, who admits he’s not a very ‘public-type? person. ‘I’m kind of a quiet person.?
Galbraith said he became active in politics ‘only within the last year.? He cited his dissatisfaction with ‘the current administration,? referring to the presidency of George W. Bush, as his motivation to become ‘really gung-ho about politics.?
Earlier this year, he was elected as a legislator in the Student Congress at OU.
When he’s not in school studying biological sciences or being politically active, Galbraith holds down two part-time jobs ? a desk clerk at the Addison Township Public Library and a veterinary assistant at The Animal Clinic at Oxford Mills.
Galbraith freely admits his chances of beating Patterson are ‘not very good.?
‘That big old ‘D? in front of my name doesn’t help me a whole lot,? he said.
But that doesn’t keep him from working hard and maintaining a positive attitude.
‘If I get in, I get in. And if I don’t, it was still a good learning experience,? he said.