UPDATED: Mark Abbo, Northville Township Supervisor, Won't Seek Re-Election

Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo will not be seeking re-election in the fall.

"After all this time, I think we’ve built a great community and I think I’m most proud of that," Abbo said in a phone interview. "I’ve enjoyed the tenure and I’m sure I will miss it."

The reason Abbo gave for his retirement from the board of trustees is that "it's time to pass the torch." He added that he plans to pursue other personal and business interests and that he feels he will be leaving the township with "a solid foundation for moving forward."

In the past year alone, Abbo led the board which sought and received an for clean-up of the Seven Mile property, the former state psychiatric hospital. It was also during his term that the board approved to be constructed at the property.

“I am proud of our record over the past two decades and I am certain that we have built a strong foundation for Northville’s future," he said.

Abbo has served the board of trustee for 20 years and is expected to make a formal announcement at the township board's meeting on Thursday. The positions are four-year terms.

When he was first elected to the board of trustees in 1992, Abbo recalls that the township had a fund balance of $200,000 and it is now a multi-million dollar fund balance, he said.

"There’s so much that I think we’ve accomplished," he said, specifically noting the building of the township hall, the new fire station and police station. "We’re in a very stable financial situation."

He also said he was proud of the "great culture for staff at township hall" and that the township was able to fight off an annexation attempt involving the city of Livonia.

"I’m proud of all of the assistance I’ve gotten from people with same objectives and goals," he added.

In an email, township trustee Christopher Roosen – who is vying for the supervisor seat himself – thanked Abbo for his service.

"Mark has led the community with a steady hand through good economic times and bad, and Northville is a better place because of his contributions," Roosen wrote.