BYRON — County commissioner and independent candidate Dave Duguay has announced he will seek re-election to the Oxford County Commission.

A graduate of Mexico High School, Duguay is the store manager of Hannaford Supermarket and Pharmacy in Jay and co-owner of Amato’s Restaurant/Fielder’s Choice Ice Cream Shop in Rumford. He has been in the service industry for nearly 40 years.

“I feel the residents of Oxford County deserve an experienced, qualified business professional to manage over $8 million being spent annually through continuous improvement and innovation,” he said.

Since he was first elected in 2004, the sheriff’s patrol has been increased by over 25 percent and the county has assumed fire/police dispatching in Rumford and fire dispatch in Dixfield. Multiple departments have updated technology and the county recently replaced its oil burning furnaces with wood pellet furnaces, cutting the annual heating bill nearly in half.

Duguay has a record of public service in several community organizations. He serves on the boards of Rumford Hospital, River Valley Growth Council and the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments. In the past he has served on the SAD 43 Board of Directors, the mill’s Community Advisory Panel, the Western Maine District Coordinating Council, as treasurer of the United Way of Oxford County, and on the Rumford Finance Committee.

He is also involved in many volunteer activities that include the Rumford Rotary Club, Hope Association and the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition.

Duguay is married to Patricia Duguay who is the executive director of the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition. They have been married 32 years and have two adult daughters, and two grandchildren, all residing in Oxford County.