PAYING HIS DUES

Chris Ward

It’s not true that nice guys finish last. Sometimes they get the recognition they rightly deserve. Take Chris Ward, who for years has toiled as the chief of staff to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. In mid-January, Oakland County Executive David Coulter named Ward as a deputy county executive, filling his fifth and final vacancy on his executive team. Ward, who didn’t seek the job, is rightly excited – after he got over being surprised he was chosen. Those who have worked with him over the 28 years he has served in local, county and state government – he was first elected a Brighton Township trustee in 1992 at the ripe ol’ age of 18! - and served as a state representative from 2002 to 2008, before joining the county in 2009 – weren’t surprised at all. He ascends to the exec’s offices February 4. No word yet who’ll fill his shoes with the county board.