Oakland County

Oakland County offices to welcome two new faces

By Chris Jackett
C & G Staff Writer

With more than 71 percent of the 927,809 registered voters throughout Oakland County stepping into the polling booth Nov. 6, the next four years of leadership was decided for many key positions.

Despite being hospitalized for the majority of the campaign season following a car accident, incumbent County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, R-Clarkston, received support from 56.71 percent (352,318 people) of county supporters and was re-elected against Kevin Howley, D-Huntington Woods.

In the Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney race, incumbent Jessica R. Cooper, D-Franklin, recaptured her role with 51.55 percent (311,916) of the countywide vote. Her primary resistance came from Michael D. Bishop, R-Rochester, with 45.3 percent.

County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard, R-Birmingham, was re-elected by 58.93 percent (364,385) of the county despite opposition from challenger Jane Felice Boudreau, D-West Bloomfield.

Also re-elected was current Oakland County Treasurer Andrew E. Meisner, D- Huntington Woods, who took 53.36 percent (319,859) of the vote from challenger Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy.

The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner race was much closer, with Jim Nash, D-Farmington Hills, edging out incumbent John P. McCulloch, R-Royal Oak, by 7,443 votes. Nash collected 50.40 percent (292,889) of the countywide votes and McCulloch had 49.12 percent (285,446).

The County Clerk and Register of Deeds position will welcome Lisa Brown, D-West Bloomfield, to the seat after she defeated incumbent Bill Bullard Jr., R-Highland. Brown captured 53.28 percent (313,391) of county residents’ vote.

At the federal level, the U.S. presidency went to incumbent Barack Obama for another four-year term. About 53.4 percent (349,055) of Oakland County voters supported Obama, who defeated Bloomfield Hills native and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

There were also six statewide proposals on the ballot, and all failed. Approximately 58 percent (358,680) of Oakland County voters supported Proposal 1, the emergency manager law referendum.

Proposal 2 through Proposal 6 — which respectively focused on amending the state constitution in regards to collective bargaining, renewable energy, in-home care workers, limiting enactment of new taxes, and the construction of international bridges and tunnels — all failed to gain enough statewide support. Oakland County voters sided with the state on the latter five proposals, with more than 59 percent of local voters rejecting them.

For results, visit www.oakgov.com/clerkrod.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Chris Jackett at cjackett@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1110.