OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (WXYZ) — The Oakland County Board of Commissioners has appointed Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter to fill the Oakland County executive position.
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The vote was along party lines, 11-10. The seat would be filled through the remainder of the term, until 2020.
Coulter says he would resign from his mayor position and quit his job with the Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation.
Commissioners also discussed current executive Jerry Poisson for the position. Poisson was sworn in as interim county executive after L. Brooks Patterson's death.
The nomination comes amid controversy on both sides of the aisle.
7 Action News learned that former Oakland County Board Commissioner Chair David Woodward is withdrawing his application after he stepped down to potentially take the job. An injunction was filed to stop Woodward from taking his seat on the board, but Woodward remained on the board.
A few weeks ago, 7 Action News uncovered text messages from Shelley Taub — telling her colleagues to delete emails about Patterson. That came just a few days after Patterson's passing.
BREAKING: Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter is now being discussed as a replacement for Oakland County Executive. At the same time, current executive Jerry Poisson’s name is being discussed. Both parties are now debating between the two. @wxyzdetroit #4PM #5PM pic.twitter.com/7nObBp1aJ8
— Simon Shaykhet WXYZ (@simonshaykhet) August 16, 2019
The Michigan Democratic Party issued this statement Saturday on behalf of MDP Chair Lavora Barnes regarding Coulter's appointment:
“We sincerely congratulate Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter on his appointment as Oakland County Executive, and we commend the Board of Commissioners for making a strong decision in filling this critical leadership position. Through his leadership and solutions-first approach as mayor, Dave Coulter not only made Ferndale a better place for all of its residents but helped draw visitors and investment to the area that have benefited the entire county and continue to pay dividends for the surrounding region. County Executive Dave Coulter knows how to bring all sides together for the better of the community, and we are confident he will get the job done for the people of Oakland County.”
