MI: Democrat Dave Coulter, mayor of Ferndale, named Oakland County executive
In a historic shift in Oakland County — after half a century of Republican rule from the executive's office — the county's Democratic majority on the board of commissioners used a narrow 11-10 margin Friday to appoint one of its own, Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter, as county executive.
The vote was bitterly disputed by Republicans, who tried unsuccessfully during the board meeting to challenge the Democrats' move in court, only to be denied by a judge. The appointment capped two weeks of political tumult and legal wrangling following the death of Oakland County's longtime leader and Republican standard bearer, L. Brooks Patterson.
Coulter's elevation to the county's top political post was made contingent on his resigning as mayor of Ferndale. The Ferndale City Council will hold a special meeting at 8 a.m. Monday, at which city council members are expected to accept Coulter's resignation.
Coulter had been suggested behind the scenes for more than a week as a strong candidate. He was seated in the audience in the commission chamber as the vote was taken, which triggered Commission chair David Woodward's announcement: "Mr. Dave Coulter is the next county executive."
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2019/08/16/oakland-county-executive-patterson/2028915001/
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