They’re the top elected officials in Southeast Michigan as Warren Evans, Mark Hackel and L. Brooks Patterson oversee the three counties – Wayne, Macomb and Oakland respectively – enveloping the Metro Detroit region.
The three seasoned politicians are immersed in looking out for their municipalities. They also share in the long term auto heritage which helped put their counties and our state on the world’s stage.
Each executive faces unique challenges as well as opportunities in making sure their county is on firm footing now as well as being positioned to handle a more globally competitive future.
Carol Cain, Senior Editor and Host of CBS62’s “Michigan Matters,” had a chance to catch up with the three politicos to get their thoughts on at the region and what each thinks will be the buzz at the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference. Here is what each had to say:
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Brooks Patterson is the veteran among the region’s top leaders, having first been elected as Oakland County Executive in 1992.
Patterson, a Republican, is facing re-election this fall.
Known for running the county with measured fiscal practices that keeps Wall Street smiling as they bestow top bond ratings , Patterson is focusing on the future as he fights to win his seventh consecutive term.
Known for his quick wit and retorts, Patterson didn’t hold back as he answered some questions.
Q: What is the biggest issue facing your county and why?
A: Without question it is the condition of our crumbling roads and infrastructure. They’ve got the know how and experience to fix them, but just not willing to commit the necessary funds. I’ve been arguing long and hard that Michigan ought to at least examine the potential for video poker in the state’s many bars. Video poker is expected to generate a net $500 million plus to the State Treasury – that’s all the road money we need on an annual basis.
Q: What are you most proud of in your county?
A: Our financial condition is extremely good. Our budget is balanced through the year 2021. We’ve maintained a AAA bond rating for the last 19 years. We are debt free having paid off the horrid legacy costs which are bringing down the Detroit school system, the City of Detroit, Chicago, etc. We paid off our legacy costs a number of years ago and are debt free and sitting on over $400 million in accessible funds.
Q: If someone is moving to the region, why should he/she look to come to your county?
A: Simply put: quality of life. We have a plummeting unemployment figure of about 4.9% and falling. We have great schools, colleges, and universities, therefore, contributing to an educated workforce. We have safe communities which is always a concern for families that move here. We have a balance in our county between strong economic development momentum and quality of life issues, such as 89 thousand acres of park land, 400 miles of trails, 1400 lakes. As I said, Oakland County has a good quality of life.
Q: Given the backdrop of Flint, how concerned are you about aging infrastructure in your county and its impact on citizens?
A: The safety of our citizens is always a paramount concern. Flint was a unique situation when they discontinued their affiliation with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department and attempted to go on their own. Serious mistakes were made in the conversion and the result is well publicized. While I’m concerned about such issues, I don’t see an imminent crisis in Oakland County, but we are vigilant to ensure that our systems are inspected and reforms are made where called for.
Q: How welcoming is your county to small business and entrepreneurs?
A: Oakland County is home to approximately 44,000 businesses, most of those would be in the small business category. We are very welcoming to small business because that is the backbone of job creation today in America and small businesses in some instances will not remain small forever, but will grow and continue to employ my residents. I have a program called “Emerging Sectors” which I kicked off in 2004 focusing on moving Oakland County into the knowledge based economy away from its reliance and independence upon manufacturing. We paid a high price during the Great Recession when we led the state in unemployment (hovering around 13%) caused by the implosion of the domestic automotive industry. Today we have over 400 businesses that have come to Oakland County since 2004 within the structure of Emerging Sectors, which would be healthcare, IT, advanced materials, advanced manufacturing, homeland security, aerospace, finance, etc.
Since we kicked off the Emerging Sectors program, those companies have invested $3.6 billion creating over 60,000 jobs. The program is a resounding success.
Q: Globally speaking, how welcoming is your county?
A: Oakland County is home to 1,048 foreign owned firms that have business locations here. That’s more than any other county in the state. Those businesses come from 38 countries around the world, with Japan being our most prolific investing foreign country. About ten years ago Oakland County started teaching Mandarin in its 38 school districts, again, in an attempt to reach out to China and its ever expanding economy. That, too, has paid very strong dividends.
Q: Everyone talks about the talent gap. How concerned are you about it?
A: We’ve been aware of the talent gap for years. It has been a major concern since our workforce is aging out and we don’t have sufficient skilled laborers in the pipeline to take their jobs. If you don’t have the workforce available then companies will go where their workforce is. That would be bad for Oakland County; that would be bad for Michigan; and if I’m right, it would be bad for the United States. Oakland County has specifically been promoting skilled trades through our technical campuses. We have encouraged Oakland Community College, the largest community college in the State of Michigan, to focus more and more of its training in the skilled trades area. We have evidence that these skilled trades, if properly trained through the journeyman programs, pay six figure incomes and benefits. That’s a very good wage and something we should promote.
Q: What do you think the attendees on the Grand Hotel’s famous porch will be talking about?
A: Well, presidential politics is the topic de jour. If we’re not talking about Trump, Hillary, and crazy Bernie, then we’re probably talking about the Flint water crisis.
Q: What is ahead for you politically as we sit here in 2016 and beyond?
A: I’ve already filed the necessary paperwork to run for re-election this fall. I will have an opponent from the Democratic Party and I expect a vigorous race will be run, and I fully expect to return as chief executive of Oakland County.
Q: There are two Democrats vying to take you on: Mark Danowski, of Davisburg, and former State Rep. and Farmington Hills Mayor Vicki Barnett. Some say she could give you a challenge if she prevails. Your thoughts?
Q: OMG she is a ‘Dragon Slayer.’ A Democrat destroyer of political careers. She strikes fear into the hearts of the rank and file Republican candidates. Trump even avoids driving through Farmington Hills. I need help in my race, the toughest in my 24 year career as the Oakland County Executive. I can’t sleep nights. I’ve lost my appetite. I’m calling upon my friends who read this interview to make a donation to my re-election effort… Please, nothing more than $6800!
Q: What will be your focus as County Executive in the months ahead?
Q: I will continue to focus on economic development. What separates us from other counties is the strength of our economy and good paying jobs. That’s where I can leave the biggest imprint, with solid, well developed, and well planned economic development initiatives.
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Mark Hackel has overseen Michigan’s third largest county since 2011.
Hackel, a Democrat who previously served as Macomb County Sheriff, has been talking up its rivers, lakes and streams, and quality of life since taking office.
Today, he is also focusing on its manufacturing base which is key to the county’s present economy and its future.
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Q: What is the biggest issue facing your county, and why?
A: Infrastructure is the biggest issue facing our County. When we look at the condition of our roads, the growing operating costs of our sewer and water systems and an emerging need to facilitate high capacity utility and telecommunication networks the price tag keeps getting larger and larger. At all levels of government we must ensure that we are appropriately and adequately investing in our aging infrastructure to support our residents and businesses.
Q: What are you most proud of in your county?
A: Telling the Macomb county story. For the past six years I have had the great fortune of exploring what Macomb County has to offer. Alongside our municipal partners and community stakeholders we have begun to express and celebrate what Macomb County has to offer to residents, visitors and businesses. Through initiatives like Make Macomb Your Home we are giving people an opportunity to experience Macomb County, and see the incredible destinations and opportunities that are here in our County.
Q: If someone is moving to the region, why should he or she look to come to your county?
- We have a dynamic quality of life in Macomb County. Whether you are looking for dynamic urban living or the beauty of our rural areas Macomb County has got something for everyone. World class freshwater assets like Lake St. Clair, great parks and trails, prosperous business climate, vibrant neighborhoods, stable schools, minor league baseball and a whole lot of other experiences that cater to everyone.
Q: Given the backdrop of Flint, how concerned are you about aging infrastructure in your county and its impact on citizens ?
A: This is a massive issue that we face all across our region and state. As our infrastructure continues to age the costs associated to maintain and operate these systems will increase drastically. We must develop appropriate funding and administration to ensure that we can provide access to safe and reliable infrastructure systems.
Q: How welcoming is your county to small business and entrepreneurs?
- In Macomb County we are fortunate to have a fully capable and accessible planning and economic development department. Across all industries and occupations our planning and economic development team is engaged and helping spur incredible investments in Macomb County. We nurture the creativity and passion of small businesses by helping them explore places to establish their business, and provide them with access to assistance services. On the larger industry side we assist companies through every stage of growth and expansion. We feel that in Macomb County or planning and economic develop staff have one of the most productive and cooperative relationships with each one of our 27 municipalities. Across this county from the board office to the front counter we are responsive to the needs of an ever changing business environment.
Q: Globally speaking, how welcoming is your county?
A: I am proud to say that Macomb County is a welcoming county. Through our diversity and multicultural awareness initiative we are connecting with ethic and cultural groups, and exploring the fascinating heritage we have here in Macomb County. With 870,000 residents, and 19 new people each day choosing to make Macomb their home we are experiencing an influx of new population groups. These new residents are helping strengthen longstanding cultural service organizations, and establishing vibrant ethnic business clusters around the County.
Q: Everyone talks about the talent gap. How concerned are you about it?
A: This is something we hear every day from our business partners, and we have been responding to their requests. It starts with workforce. Macomb County’s workforce has increased to nearly 420,000 individuals, which provides us with a great foundation of professionals to help fill the talent gap. We work daily with our workforce development and educational partners to develop on-the-fly work readiness and retraining programs to meet the emerging technology needs of industry. One of our most impactful and creative initiatives in our involvement in national Manufacturing Day. Macomb County is home to one of the nation’s largest Manufacturing Day events where this past year we helped 1,800 high school students’ tour nearly 5 dozen manufacturing establishments in the county. We are breaking down the barriers and perceptions of the manufacturing field, and helping kids see the value and opportunity of our production based industries.
Q: What do you think attendees on the Grand Hotel’s infamous porch will be talking about?
A: Detroit, Flint and Trump
Q: What is ahead for you, politically, as we sit here in 2016?
A: Right now I am committed to fulfilling my responsibilities as County Executive.
Q: What will be your focus as county executive in the year ahead?
A: Continue to raise the profile of Macomb County. Helping people see the value and opportunity in Macomb. Focusing less on politics, and more on people, places and passion.
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Now into his first term as executive of the state’s largest county, Warren Evans, a Democrat, has spent the bulk of that time dealing with its fiscal crisis which he inherited.
He was able to dodge emergency management which many had predicted was ahead. But the tough times and decisions for the county of 1.8 million people are not over as he talked about.
Q: What is the biggest issue facing your county, and why?
A: Local communities are struggling to provide basic services such as police, fire, road and infrastructure repairs because the system to fund municipalities is broken. A city or township unable to provide the level of services residents need impacts a community’s quality of life. The current funding model does not support strong, successful communities. We are working to find fair funding for Wayne County and Michigan communities.
Finding a solution to the partially-finished jail on Gratiot is another issue facing Wayne County.
Q: What is the latest with the jail sit and prospects for it as the site of a MLS stadium?
A: With regard to the Gratiot jail site, my priority is protecting the interests of Wayne County taxpayers. Right now, finishing the Gratiot jail is the best option for quickly and cost-effectively building the new jail Wayne County needs.
To change our plans and go elsewhere, we will need a guarantee that there will be no additional cost to taxpayers in solving our jail problem. However, their proposal also requires taxpayers to replace the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice and the Juvenile Detention Center, as well as the jail.
My administration and I are open to entertaining a proposal that allows us to build a jail and all the corresponding criminal justice facilities elsewhere, provided it doesn’t increase the cost for Wayne County taxpayers and doesn’t delay our current timeline. No one has provided us with a proposal with the guarantees we need, and until then we will proceed with building the jail at Gratiot as planned.
Q: What are you most proud of in your county?
- Wayne County’s diverse resident population, the economic comeback we’ve begun and the fact that Wayne County government is back on solid financial footing; combined is a strong recipe that benefits our 43 communities and the residents who reside in them.
Q: If someone is moving to the region, why should he or she look to come to your county?
A: Wayne County is a great place to move if you want to relocate your business, family or if you a single person wanting to make your mark on the World. We have 43 unique communities comprised of great neighborhoods that are culturally diverse. You can find anything you want in Wayne County. A community like Detroit offers the sports, entertainment and economic centers of the big city, while Plymouth offers a quaint downtown shopping district or the Pointes which offer the quiet suburban life.
Another reason to consider Wayne County is our proximity to three of the nation’s leading public research institutions (MSU, Wayne State and U of M). Businesses that choose to locate here will have direct access to talent trained and educated at schools that specialize in real world research experience.
Q: Given the backdrop of Flint, how concerned are you about aging infrastructure in your county and its impact on citizens?
A: Infrastructure across the state has been deteriorating slowly for years. I am concerned that if we don’t find a solution to better fund local communities we’ll see more tragedies involving infrastructure. Communities across the state are being forced to defer maintenance on roads, bridges, buildings and other important infrastructure. The current funding model does not support strong, successful communities. We must find fair funding for Michigan’s counties, cities, townships, and villages.
Q: How welcoming is your county to small business and entrepreneurs? Any specific program to mention that sets you apart from the others?
A: Small businesses play a vital role in the economic fabric of Wayne County. Whether it’s a new restaurant downriver or bakery in Dearborn to a new technology company in Detroit, the entrepreneurial spirit in Wayne County keeps our communities thriving. Data indicates between 70 and 80 percent of the new jobs created in Wayne County come from businesses that were already in Wayne County. We want today’s new idea for a business to become tomorrow’s high-grow company. To assist, Wayne County’s Economic Development Corporation has been meeting with small business owners to assess their needs and connect them to resources, which we’re finding many small businesses are unaware of, like Southeast Michigan Community Alliance’s workforce development and training program.
Q: Globally speaking, how welcoming is your county?
A: Wayne County is also a great place for international development because of our access to a strong manufacturing workforce and our proximity to freeways, railroads and the international boarder. Since taking office 18 months ago, several international development projects have opened shop in Wayne County. For instance: India-based Sakthi Automotive announced a $31.9 million development in Detroit that is expected to create 350 new jobs; Chinese subsidiary CW Bearing announced a $25.9 million investment in Northville Township to build new U.S headquarters. The project is expected to create 125 jobs and German auto supplier ZF Friedrichshafen invested $71 million into a tech center expansion in Northville. The project is expected to create nearly 600 jobs.
Q: Everyone talks about the talent gap. How concerned are you about it?
A: Decreasing the talent gap requires thinking differently about how we extract a person’s talent so they can meet their full potential. You hear stories from union leaders about candidates from Wayne County who can’t meet the requirements. We need to crunch the data on the issues preventing able-bodied people from landing these good paying jobs, and seek solutions to help them. For example, if someone cannot pass the math proficiency, instead of telling them to take classes at the local community college, we need to create programs specifically focused on teaching the type of math needed to work in skilled-trades. I have been in discussions with union leaders about this and we’re in discussions about breaking down the barriers.
Q: As the conference plays out, what do you think attendees on the Grand Hotel’s famous porch will be talking about?
A: Flint water crisis, Detroit Public Schools and Municipal Funding Reform
Q: What is ahead for you, politically, as we sit here in 2016?
A: We accomplished a lot in less than half of my first term. As my first term gets nearer the end, I will make a decision on whether to run for re-election.
Q: What will be your focus as county executive in the year ahead?
A: Continued fiscal stability, municipal funding reform and continuing to improve the services we offer Wayne County residents.
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