Who will replace LBrooksP ?

[O3H]

Not much commentary on who might replace Lewis - interesting.......

[gazhekwe]

Vicky Barnett has been hankering after that job. Former state rep.
Then there is Andy Meisner, Oakland County Treasurer.
Maybe Craig Covey, who has been angling for a county post.
Vince Gregory, State Senator from Southfield, who will be term limited.
Just a few of the usual suspects. There are plenty more.

[Bham1982]

L Brooks is a bigot, but also a top-notch manager. I think he's managed to maintain power simply because the county has been so well-run for so long.

That doesn't excuse his bigotry, of course, and doesn't mean he isn't a redneck in a suit, but it explains his longevity as the county has shifted to Dem-leaning.

[G-DDT]

A buttered piece of burnt toast that fell face side down on the crusty kitchen linoleum.

At this point, anything will do better than L Brooks.

[3WC]

I agree that Bham1982 has pegged LBP correctly. I don't necessarily agree that LBP is a racist but based on his Oakland-County-first approach to dealing with Wayne County it may appear that way.

As for Detroit, If Obama had pardoned Kwame so he could run for Mayor of Detroit in August, Kwame would win in a landslide.

And, Duggan has no successful business experience as somebody up there claimed. He sold the DMC for $100 million less than the buyer resold it for a year later. The guy left a fortune on the table, and was rewarded financially and politically for it. If anyone should get any credit for Detroit's recent successes it should be Dan Gilbert. But, he's way too smart to run for mayor.

[O3H]

Could Oakland County ever elect a Black County Executive ?
Would that be an entire "no-go" situation, from day one of the campaign ?

Perhaps someone like former Xerox executive Bill Cobbs ?

http://www.billcobbs2018.com/newsroom-contact-2

[Detroit Stylin]

The man began his career on being the lawyer that wanted to stop kids from Detroit being bussed into majority/ all white schools for no other reason than to keep those areas white. He was no different than Orville Hubbard, he was just smart enough not to say what he really felt outright.

So again....how can you NOT agree that the man is a racist when you look at his own county where the only city that looks like a disaster area is Pontiac is majority Black and "minority", and suffering while the rest of his county has decent to good services is majority and in some cases ALL white? Also while building his career and consolodating his power using the Us versus Them [[them being the 90$ majority Black city Detroit, and his rampant obsession of being against mass transit in the region that would make it easier for those in the city to get to their jobs out in OC?

I agree that Bham1982 has pegged LBP correctly. I don't necessarily agree that LBP is a racist but based on his Oakland-County-first approach to dealing with Wayne County it may appear that way.

As for Detroit, If Obama had pardoned Kwame so he could run for Mayor of Detroit in August, Kwame would win in a landslide.

And, Duggan has no successful business experience as somebody up there claimed. He sold the DMC for $100 million less than the buyer resold it for a year later. The guy left a fortune on the table, and was rewarded financially and politically for it. If anyone should get any credit for Detroit's recent successes it should be Dan Gilbert. But, he's way too smart to run for mayor.

[O3H]

I'm attempting to look forward, and let LBrooksP get crushed by his historical record.
Ideally his replacement is willing to work for the greater good of the whole region.

[3WC]

Bussing was a major political issue at the time. Many of both races thought it was counterproductive. There were major financial burdens imposed on both races by bussing. LBP was certainly not the only black or white lawyer to fight it.

The Oakland County Executive's job is not "to work for the greater good of the whole region." His or her job is to work for the greater good of Oakland County taxpayers. That means promoting things that are beneficial regionally and to oppose those that are bad for the county.

Our job as Oakland County voters is to make sure the Executive knows the difference.

Counties are in competition with each other over a wide spectrum of issues. Each county should want the person elected in their county to be smart, combative when necessary, cooperative if necessary and fiscally responsibly. NOT a bleeding heart liberal who promotes a liberal, vote buying ideology over fiscal and long term good governance. Somebody should explain these things to Wayne County voters. [[But, it won't do any good.)

[dtowncitylover]

Our job as Oakland County voters is to make sure the Executive knows the difference.

My job as a resident of Oakland county and voter in Metro Detroit is to vote for those who wishes to see this region move forward together into the 21st century.

Detroit is not bad for the county. Transit is not bad for the county. Curbing sprawl is not bad for the county. It should never be cooperation when necessary, it should always be necessary to be cooperative.

[O3H]

I call bullshit on each county, being in an all out fight to the death, on issues.
People seem to forget that Drinking Water and Sewage cross imaginary borders.
The same happens for the Electrical Grid and the Highway system.

Oakland would wither, die, and fade to dust , if the borders where truly shut tight.

Perhaps people forget OaklandCounty is landlocked
- no access to Detroit River
- no access to Lake St Clair

Everything is great till you can't flush your toilet or get drinking water, eh ?

Oakland County better wake up to the harsh reality of trying to be an island.

[Bham1982]

Could Oakland County ever elect a Black County Executive ?
Would that be an entire "no-go" situation, from day one of the campaign ?

Perhaps someone like former Xerox executive Bill Cobbs ?

http://www.billcobbs2018.com/newsroom-contact-2

I could see someone like Brenda Lawrence as County Executive, assuming she wanted the job [[a big if).

Oakland is a Dem-leaning county. It's much more Dem-leaning than Macomb and Livingston. It's probably as Dem-leaning as suburban Wayne. It isn't really "liberal", but this is Michigan, no place is like NY, MA or CA.

Trump-type nationalist/racist appeals aren't popular in white collar, educated areas, which is why he lost Oakland. People with jobs in global industries know that populism is very dangerous, and historically has always ended in catastrophe.

[Bham1982]

I call bullshit on each county, being in an all out fight to the death, on issues.
People seem to forget that Drinking Water and Sewage cross imaginary borders.
The same happens for the Electrical Grid and the Highway system.

Oakland would wither, die, and fade to dust , if the borders where truly shut tight.

Perhaps people forget OaklandCounty is landlocked
- no access to Detroit River
- no access to Lake St Clair

I have no clue why allegedly pro-Detroit and pro-regional DYes posters believe that Oakland County is some inherent threat to the region's prosperity.

It's the engine of the region's prosperity. Probably 90% of executives and expats choose to live in Oakland. If it weren't for Oakland County the region would be a gigantic Flint but with more interesting history, better food and good architecture/culture downtown.

[O3H]

Oakland basically NEVER paid for proper infrastructure
- passing the buck to other communities to do the work for them.

Now that other communities woke up to Oaklands atrocities over the years
it's affluent financial base will rapidly erode as it is forced to pay its fair share.

http://bit.ly/PattersonAlbatross

No one wants the feces from Oakland County, clean it yourself from now on

[Bham1982]

Oakland basically NEVER paid for proper infrastructure
- passing the buck to other communities to do the work for them.

Oakland County pays far more in taxes than any county in MI [[as it should). It's a massive net contributor county.

Which infrastructure are your referring to that Oakland is supposedly unique in refusing to fund?

[dtowncitylover]

I could see someone like Brenda Lawrence as County Executive, assuming she wanted the job [[a big if).

Uhhhhhhh didn't she run in 2008 for county executive? She wanted it then... she's probably happy where she is now​ though.

[Bham1982]

Uhhhhhhh didn't she run in 2008 for county executive? She wanted it then... she's probably happy where she is now​ though.

Well, yeah, that was my point. She has a great job now.

Obviously if she ran in the future it would be a very different race than '08. Oakland gets more Dem-leaning every year. Twenty years ago it was the most conservative suburban county, now it's the most "liberal" suburban county, so if she were to run, one would assume she would have a good chance [[esp. with no wildly popular incumbent like Patterson).

Over the last few decades there has been a huge shift in geographic political leanings. Rural and working class white suburban areas have shifted right and urban and affluent suburban areas have shifted left.

Macomb was solid Dem and fairly left before Reagan, now I think they would elect Alex Jones or Steve Bannon in a landslide over Reagan.

[O3H]

Perhaps Bham1982 missed the link
http://bit.ly/PattersonAlbatross

That bit of infrastructure - the one regarding WWTP facilities - $1 Billion+ worth

http://bit.ly/LandLocked

[Dumpling]

I am being lazy here, but what were the highlights of the billion dollar
plan that was never implemented?

[EastsideAl]

Bussing was a major political issue at the time. Many of both races thought it was counterproductive. There were major financial burdens imposed on both races by bussing. LBP was certainly not the only black or white lawyer to fight it.

At that time LBP was not simply against busing, he was very adamantly and vocally against white kids going to school with black kids.

[emu steve]

At that time LBP was not simply against busing, he was very adamantly and vocally against white kids going to school with black kids.

I read in Wikipdia that LBP is a UDM honoree. Ugh!!!

"Patterson graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in 1957. He received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit, and his Juris Doctor in 1967 from its law school.^[2] In 2005, he was Alumnus of the Year at his alma mater.^{[2] "}

[O3H]

Irony and Poetic Justice
Detroit schools suck..... right ?

[jcole]

I don't think anyone has intimated that University of Detroit Mercy sucks; most Jesuit schools are pretty tough to get through.

Irony and Poetic Justice
Detroit schools suck..... right ?

[O3H]

Black/White
Wayne County/Oakland County
Busing
Forced Integration
Bigotry/Racism/Seperatist

Oakland County against everything
not in the borders of Oakland Country

except a Jesuit school............ hmmmm

[gnome]

O3H-
We get it. You and LBP don't exchange Christmas Cards. Fine.

The Forum doesn't belong to you nor your inability to entertain views contrary to your own.