RULES OF THE GAME

Oakland County Commissioners Charlie Cavell (D-Birmingham, Ferndale, Berkley, Huntington Woods) and Kristen Nelson (D-Waterford, West Bloomfield, Keego Harbor) set off a firestorm recently when they announced they were withdrawing from the county board Democratic caucus because of what Cavell called “unethical behavior” by county leadership – notably county commission board chair Dave Woodward (D-Royal Oak) and deputy county executive Sean Carlson. “I think it’s more a culture and lack of professionalism and lack of caring about people. Our budget does not go far for helping people who need it,” with looming federal cuts, alleged Cavell, stating that Woodward and Carlson were “hoarding money” rather than spending it on poor households, seeming not to understand that “Oakland County has a long tradition of fiscal restraint. He wanted to go on a spending spree like a drunken sailor,” Woodward countered. “Neither of them came to the caucus meeting and gave notice of their intent to resign. If there was a problem, they should have come and spoken with any member of the caucus. In any government body, you have to be able to work with different viewpoints. Instead, they went to the media.” A further dagger thrown at Woodward was his consultancy work, as the county board is a part-time gig for all commissioners. He has recently been hired by Sheetz, the Pennsylvania gas station empire currently descending on the metro area, to the consternation of many mom and pop stations. “We have laws in Michigan to prevent us from conflicts of interest, that require recusal from participation, for compliance with the law and good governance,” Woodward said. His Sheetz representation, he said, does not represent any conflict of interest because it does not come before county business, and has been vetted by county staff and attorneys. “My work was widely known in Oakland County,” and despite the media efforts by Cavell and Nelson, it has not compromise his consulting work. It seems to have backfired for the two, however, as they were stripped of all committee positions and work as soon as they left the Democratic caucus – meaning their constituents are left without representation. “The notion that you quit the caucus and keep all your toys – all your positions – is irrational,” Woodward noted. Checkmate.