doubled their prediction with 23,000
jobs.
• For the first nine months of 2012,
38 companies have invested about $80
million in Oakland County, creating
and retaining more than 7,600 jobs.
• The emerging sector of health
care is exploding. Anderson Economic
Group says 100,000 individuals in
Oakland County work in that and
related fields. That's more than the
Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic
regions combined.
• To support this burgeoning job
growth, Patterson initiated Medical
Main Street in 2008 to market the
region as a destination for world-class
health care, life science research and
medical device manufacturing. Today,
there are 4,900 clinical trials going on
in our region — more than California,
New York and New Jersey.
• In September 2012 alone, under
Patterson's Emerging Sectors pro-
gram, three information technology
and two advanced electronic compa-
nies invested about $2.5 million in
Oakland County, creating 112 jobs
and retaining 55.
Howley's Rebuttal
Howley said
empirical data
show that
the current
Emerging
Sectors pro-
gram is not
working,
and that 90
percent of
the 23,000 jobs restored in 2011 are
related to the auto industry, and not a
long-term indicator of the economic
health and diversity of the county.
"We need to focus on 21st-century
industries that are going to move
Oakland County forward," he said. "I
would like to restore Oakland County
to its historical position as the com-
munity of choice for young families
and emerging industries. Our invest-
ments in economic development need
to be strategic and cost effective, with
a focus on workforce development,
business access to capital, neighbor-
hood stabilization and public trans-
portation. We need to strengthen and
defend our public schools, which have
traditionally been our greatest com-
petitive advantage.
"Relative to entrepreneurship, it's
going to take focus and commitment,"
Howley said. "Look at what [Quicken
Loans chairman and founder] Dan
Gilbert did in Detroit. He identified
a vision and then laid out the plan to
make it happen — and it's happen-
ing. We need to do the same thing in
Oakland County."
Howley said he would establish a
leadership core "because the county
has changed so dramatically over
the last 50 years. It's time to gather
voices from throughout the county to
develop a strategic plan with clearly
stated goals and objectives to achieve
that vision. For too long, too many
communities have been excluded
from county government — and that
must change."
Patterson said he will do "very
well" Nov. 6, and will definitely seek
one more term, but "Father Time is
creeping up on me, and I'm definitely
cognizant of that."
Howley would prefer an earlier
retirement for Patterson. El]
Achieve
athlet i cs
Detroit Country Day School
provides its students with a
well-rounded liberal arts education
that is nationally recognized
for a tradition of excellence in
academics, athletics and the arts.
LOWER SCHOOL;
Pre-K3 — 2nd grade
3003 West Maple Rd
248.430.2740
JUNIOR SCHOOL
3rd — 5th grade
3600 Bradway Blvd
248.430.1074
MIDDLE SCHOOL:
6th — 8th grade
22400 Hillview Ln
248.430.3655
UPPER SCHOOL:
9th 12th grade
22305 West 13 Mile Rd
248.430.3587
DETROIT COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
www.d c ds.e du
Visit our Open House on Sunday, October 28 • :1 3 p.m.
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1764410
Meisner has expanded the mis-
sion of the office to include an
innovative program to prevent tax
and mortgage foreclosure, as well
as suing mortgage giants Fannie
Mae and Freddie Mac on behalf of
Oakland County taxpayers.
Meisner also instituted a new
system of monthly payment plans
for families and businesses that
have fallen behind on their prop-
erty taxes, which has generated
more than $11 million in 2012.
The first countywide official
to refuse a taxpayer-funded car,
gasoline and cell phone, Meisner
has made more than $1.5 million
in cuts, while generating $76 mil-
lion in savings and revenues for
Oakland County taxpayers, all
the while helping Oakland County
maintain its AAA bond rating.
Running against: Marty
Knollenberg (R)
Oakland County Board
of Commissioners
According to the 2012 Oakland
County Directory, "The Board of
Commissioners performs a role
similar to a state legislature or
city council. It acts on proposals
submitted by the County Executive
and makes proposals of its own.
It possesses the legislative and
administrative powers granted by
state law. The County Executive
may veto acts of the Board and the
vetoes can be overridden by a two-
thirds vote of the Board."
Candidates on page 54
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