Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner is expected to announce his candidacy for the county executive’s job on Tuesday.

The Democrat has called a news conference for Tuesday morning at the Rust Belt Market in Ferndale for “a major announcement about the future of Oakland County.”

The news release sent out to the news media doesn’t say what the announcement will be, but a banner at the bottom leaves no doubt, reading: “Andy Meisner for Oakland County Executive.”

Meisner, 45, who is in the middle of his third four-year term as county treasurer, would be the first to officially announce his candidacy for the top county job long held by Republican L. Brook Patterson.

Patterson, who turned 80 in January and struggles with health problems from a 2012 car crash, hasn’t said whether he will run for re-election next year, but there has been a lot of speculation that this will be his final term in office.

More:Who's likely to replace L. Brooks Patterson if he retires?

More:Aide: L. Brooks Patterson is staying put as Oakland County executive

Other names that surfaced as possible candidates for the top job in Michigan's wealthiest county:

Sheriff Mike Bouchard: A Republican who wins consistently in a county that votes reliably Democratic at the presidential level, Bouchard is the GOP's top vote-getter in Oakland.

A Republican who wins consistently in a county that votes reliably Democratic at the presidential level, Bouchard is the GOP's top vote-getter in Oakland. Bryan Barnett: Republican mayor of Rochester Hills, Barnett won a City Council election at age 23 and became mayor at 30.

Republican mayor of Rochester Hills, Barnett won a City Council election at age 23 and became mayor at 30. Dave Woodward: A former Democratic state representative who now serves as chairman of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, representing Berkley and Royal Oak.

A former Democratic state representative who now serves as chairman of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, representing Berkley and Royal Oak. Vicki Barnett: A Democrat and former mayor of Farmington Hills, Barnett lost to Patterson by seven points in 2016 on a shoestring campaign budget.

A check with the Oakland County Clerk's Office on Monday revealed that nobody has filed as a candidate yet for the 2020 executive's race.

Also read: 2020 presidential bid not on Rep. Justin Amash's radar, but not ruled out

Oakland County was long a Republican stronghold but Democrats have made significant gains in recent years, including grabbing control of the Board of Commissioners in the November 2018 election.

More:Oakland treasurer accuses Dem candidate of embezzling $100K from campaign

More:L. Brooks Patterson says he won't run again, calls Duggan 'a creep'

Prior to his election in 2008 as treasurer, Meisner was state representative for Ferndale, Oak Park, Hazel Park, Pleasant Ridge, Berkley and Huntington Woods. He got his start in politics as an aide to former U.S. Rep. Sander Levin.

Meisner has a law degree from University of Detroit-Mercy and an undergrad degree from University of Michigan. He lives in Huntington Woods with his wife, Sara, a former Obama communications appointee, and their two sons, Asher and Levi.

Free Press staff writers John Wisely and Christina Hall contributed to this report.