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.

