Jose Aliaga, a former Independence Township supervisor and Oakland Community College graduate, is running for the college’s Board of Trustees in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Two six-year seats are on the ballot in the nonpartisan race, and voters may choose up to two candidates.
Aliaga responded to The Royal Oak Record candidate questionnaire on Oct. 1. Unless otherwise noted, the information and responses below come from that questionnaire.
Asked why he is running, Aliaga emphasized his experience as an OCC student.
“I understand firsthand how a community college can open doors and create opportunities,” he said. “I want to give back to the institution and community that helped me succeed.”
He said his priorities include affordability, workforce programs, technology and helping students complete their education.
Candidate information
Party affiliation: The trustee election is nonpartisan.
Family: “I am married to Lindsay, and we are proud parents of our young son, Joseph,” Aliaga said.
Education: Aliaga said he earned associate degrees in general studies and liberal arts from OCC, followed by a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in social science from the University of Michigan.
He also reported earning a law degree from Universidad Las Américas in Peru and becoming licensed to practice law there.
Aliaga said he completed a HarvardX certificate in U.S. public policy and is completing graduate studies in public administration.
Experience and public service
Aliaga served as an Independence Township trustee and later as township supervisor from 2022 to 2024.
He said his local government work involved municipal budgets, infrastructure, economic development, parks and recreation, public safety and community services.
“My public-service experience taught me that an elected official must listen carefully, ask difficult questions, work constructively with others, and remember that public resources belong to the taxpayers,” he said.
Aliaga also reported working for the Social Security Administration, assisting members of the public and supporting people with disabilities. His other experience includes international business and consulting, work with immigrant communities and founding the Liberty Bell Foundation.
Asked about accomplishments that prepare him for the position, Aliaga cited collaboration with local, state and federal partners.
“One accomplishment I am particularly proud of was helping pursue approximately $2.5 million in federal funding for water infrastructure through coordination with congressional representatives, township professionals, and other stakeholders,” he said.
He also said he helped transfer the township’s public-access television operations to Clarkston High School.
On the issues
Enrollment and student success: Aliaga identified adapting to changing enrollment patterns while maintaining affordability, academic quality and financial stability as a major challenge.
He said he would focus on helping students stay enrolled and complete their programs, strengthening transfer pathways and building partnerships with Oakland County employers.
“The objective should not simply be attracting students; it should be helping students complete credentials that provide genuine educational and economic value while protecting OCC’s long-term financial strength,” he said.
Workforce preparation: Aliaga said his priorities include skilled trades, health care, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies.
He supports evaluating programs and facilities using information about enrollment, completion, employment demand, educational outcomes and costs.
Affordability and financial planning: Aliaga said student affordability and the college’s other needs should be addressed together.
“Affordability must remain central to OCC’s mission, but maintaining affordable tuition requires disciplined long-term financial planning,” he said.
He also emphasized supporting faculty and staff and directing resources toward programs that meet student and community needs.
Oversight: Aliaga said technology and efficient operations could help control administrative costs.
“The Board’s responsibility is to provide strong oversight, ask difficult questions, listen to students and employees, and ensure taxpayer and tuition dollars are invested responsibly for both today’s students and future generations,” he said.
What sets him apart: Aliaga emphasized his experience as a community college graduate, municipal official and federal employee, along with his business and international background.
“I am bilingual in English and Spanish and have worked with people from many cultural and economic backgrounds,” he said.
Other candidates
The other candidates are Marian Blocker, MiVida M. Burrus, Jacqueline A. Kelly, Robin L. McGregor, Alexandra Morgan and Deborah Snyder, according to Oakland County’s official candidate list.
Advice that guides him
“The best advice I have received is simple: never forget where you came from, and always look for a way to serve others,” Aliaga said.
He described his personal motto as “I live to serve.”
“Whether in government, education, business, or community service, I try to remember that leadership is ultimately about helping people and leaving an institution stronger than you found it,” he said.
This profile draws primarily on Jose Aliaga’s responses to The Royal Oak Record candidate questionnaire, with additional information from Oakland County election records. Responses have been excerpted and paraphrased; direct quotations retain his wording.
