22 | OCTOBER 15 • 2020
D
emocrat David Coulter
was appointed Oakland
County executive fol-
lowing the death last year of L.
Brooks Patterson. He is now
running for a full term against
Republican Mike Kowall.
Here are highlights of our
Zoom interview, edited for
length and clarity.
TOP PRIORITIES
I take seriously that COVID-19
is still here without a vaccine. I
run the health department, and
we’
ve taken some strict orders
following the lead of the state,
based on the science. I think
they’
ve made a great difference.
This is both a public health con-
cern and an economic one.
It’
s our priority to continue
supporting our businesses,
residents, seniors and cultural
institutions, which is a challenge,
especially if there’
s not another
round of funding.
Before the pandemic, I
launched Oakland Health 360
to bring affordable, quality
healthcare to each of our resi-
dents. We’
re six months into a
three-year-process to provide
primary care, kids’
dental and
wraparound human services at
our public health clinics.
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
A couple things make us opti-
mistic. Oakland County was in
good economic shape before
the pandemic. The past decade,
we’
ve been working to diversify
our economy so we’
re not as reli-
ant on auto-related business.
This recession hasn’
t yet
impacted property values, which
is where most of our revenue
comes from.
ANTISEMITISM
I will speak out against injus-
tice when it happens toward
anyone. As a gay man, I grew
up having to stand up for my
own rights and the rights of the
LGBTQ community. Whether
it’
s antisemitism, ageism, sexism,
homophobia, anti-immigration
rhetoric, that cannot be allowed
to take root. I want to be a voice
for the Jewish community, which
is very important to Oakland
County.
ATTRACTING YOUNG RESIDENTS
Transit is up there. Young people
aren’
t as interested in owning
a car. They’
re also attracted to
urban environments. We need to
have a regional mentality.
I also look at places like
Pontiac as a great untapped
opportunity. Pontiac could
become a dynamic place with
energy and things young folks
are looking for.
TRANSPARENCY
After we did the map [of
COVID cases by ZIP code], we
saw disparities based on race.
This was particularly important
to the Black community because
it showed we understood this
was hurting them worse. If we’
re
transparent with that data, this
helps to promote trust.
Our budget is also now online
and searchable. We’
re trying to
put up everything we can and be
as transparent as possible.
F
ormer State Sen. Mike
Kowall, a Republican from
White Lake, is looking to
unseat Democrat David Coulter
as Oakland County executive.
Here are highlights of our
Zoom interview with Kowall,
edited for length and clarity.
TOP PRIORITY
I really appreciate the economic
development and quality of life
we have in Oakland County.
This is one of the best places
to live in the United States. I’
m
running because I want to make
sure we keep it that way — and
that we’
re very careful in how we
spend tax dollars with the gen-
eral public. I’
m concerned that
the fund equity we’
ve built up is
being depleted.
BIGGEST CHALLENGES
COVID is a major issue we need
to get through with as little dam-
age as possible. We seem to have
a better handle on it than we did
in the beginning, but I’
m very
concerned the Oakland County
Health Department is not giving
good direction and support to
our schools.
Mental health is a major issue
not being addressed in our
county. I see an opportunity to
build a consortium of our hospi-
tals, all which I’
ve worked with
when I was at the state.
WATER RESOURCES
We have an immense amount of
infrastructure that needs to be
replaced. For instance, whenever
it rains hard, Royal Oak and
nearby areas get flooded — peo-
ple’
s basements fill with water. It
needs to be fixed, not just patch-
worked.
ANTISEMITISM
I’
ll do everything in my power
to stop antisemites from getting
any traction in Oakland County,
including sitting and talking
with Jewish community leaders
— I know most of them because
I grew up and was immersed in
a predominantly Jewish area of
Detroit. I had family who died in
concentration camps in Poland,
so I understand the emphasis
that needs to be put on antisem-
itism.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
We’
re seeing a big emphasis on
the 5G networks. Also, satellite
launching, that’
s happening
down in Florida right now and
will soon be in Michigan.
I’
ve also been contacted by
pharmaceutical companies who
want to know about making
products in Oakland County
instead of places like China. It’
s
about bringing in new, innova-
tive ideas.
VISION FOR THE COUNTY
Oakland County is one of the
best places on the planet to live.
But we need to keep trying to
improve daily. We have to look
out for our grandkids. That’
s
why I’
m so involved with the
schools and concerned about
education and mental health. I
want to have people dedicated
to specific areas of the county so
we know exactly what’
s happen-
ing and where we can help.
Oakland County Executive
David Coulter
Mike Kowall
JN STAFF
JN STAFF
Oakland County executive seeks
vote of confi
dence from voters.
Former state senator seeks to
be Oakland County executive.