READY TO RUN
Whether or not Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson keeps his streak going in 2020 and runs for an unprecedented eighth (!) four-year term, Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dave Woodward (D-Berkley, Royal Oak) will be throwing his hat in the ring to run. “I am very interested in being the next county executive,” he said, setting up a potential primary throw down with fellow Democrat Andy Meisner, currently the county treasurer. Woodward, a former state representative from 1998-2004, noted his years of experience as a legislator, a county commissioner, and “now in leadership. My values are now the values of Oakland County, as evidenced by the 2018 election,” Woodward said. “Oakland County voters want more inclusiveness, more progressive and more regional partner-solving on the problems of our community,” singling out the issues of drinking water, roads, affordable housing and the elephant in the Oakland County room – regional transit. “One way or another, this board is going to look at how to improve transit in Oakland County, as well as the region.” Game on.