L. Brooks Patterson is beginning his fifth four-year term as Oakland County Executive after winning re-election in 2008 by another large electoral margin. As the chief elected official in one of Americas most affluent and progressive counties, Mr. Patterson presides over a $769 million dollar annual budget for FY2008 and a county workforce of nearly 4,000 full and part time benefit eligible employees.
During the 16 years of the Patterson administration, Oakland County government has earned respect from Wall Street for its solid tax base and sound financial policies by attaining and maintaining a coveted AAA bond rating, which only 34 of the nation's 3,200 counties have received.
Innovative programs Mr. Patterson has launched include:
Mandarin Chinese In his 2007 State of the County Address, Mr. Patterson, noting the challenges presented by Chinas emergence as a world economic power, called for Oakland County to be the first county in America to teach Mandarin Chinese in all 28 public school districts. Educators responded and today the Mandarin Chinese language is taught in 22 school districts in Oakland County while Mandarin Culture and History is taught in all 28 school districts.
Emerging Sectors
An initiative focused on identifying the top ten emerging and promising business sectors for the new economy of the 21st Century that Oakland County might be able to attract for future job growth and long lasting economic stability. Companies in these emerging sectors are involved in such cutting edge technologies as biotechnology, nanotechnology, wireless communications and alternative energy.
Count Your Steps
A pedometer walking program to target childhood obesity that involves providing pedometers to 30,000 third and fourth grade students in Oakland Countys public, private and charter schools. All money is raised through private donations; no taxpayers' funds are involved.
Successful Health Care Cost Containment Initiative
Under Mr. Pattersons leadership, Oakland County is the first county in America to have eliminated its unfunded liability for employee and retiree health care. Through the creative and innovative use of Trust Certificates, Mr. Patterson has fully funded employee and retiree health care while at the same time saved the taxpayers of Oakland County over $150 million.
Automation Alley
Southeast Michigans premier high-tech consortium which Mr. Patterson founded in 1998, now boasts a membership roster of more than 980 companies. Automation Alley has received the Presidents E Award for excellence in exporting presented personally by President George W. Bush during a White House ceremony.
Mr. Pattersons Employee Suggestion Program has generated more than $5 million worth of taxpayer savings since 1993 while his Casual Day Program has distributed approximately $450,000 to local charities over the past 14 years. (Neither involves taxpayers' funds.)
Mr. Patterson founded Arts, Beats & Eats in 1998. The four-day, family-oriented fun-fest in downtown Pontiac features great food, wonderful music and extraordinary art. The event, ranked as one of the top 10 Art Fairs in America, attracts an estimated 1.4 million people annually.
Mr. Patterson also established the Brooksie Way Half Marathon and 5K Race which attracted some 4,000 participants in its inaugural debut on October 5, 2008 at Oakland University in Rochester. The race is named in honor of his son, Brooks Stuart Patterson, who was killed in a snowmobiling accident.
Although Mr. Patterson has been involved in a number of charities, perhaps the one closest to his heart is The Rainbow Connection, which he founded in 1980 following the tragic death of a close friend and his two children in a private plane crash. To honor the memory of the children, Mr. Patterson established The Rainbow Connection which grants wishes to terminally ill children. Mr. Patterson serves as president of this organization.
Mr. Patterson has earned numerous awards and honors including:
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce Annual Award for Distinguished Service and Leadership for spearheading a successful statewide petition drive to repeal the Single Business Tax and for exemplary service as a local government official
Named by Government Technology Magazine as one of the Top 25 individuals in America in 2006 for pushing the boundaries of government as usual
2007 Rotary Foundation of Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow
Bloomfield Hills Rotary Foundation 2007 Distinguished Community Leader Award
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Kettering University in Flint (2006)
Lighthouse Humanitarian Award (2004)
Corp! Magazine Man of the Decade (2000)
Arts, Beats & Eats Foundation Quality of Life Award (2003)
Automation Alley CEO Legend of the Year (2003)
NAACP Recognition Dinner (2004)
2005 Visionary Award from the Michigan Department of Information Technology for leadership support of technology initiatives
Champion for Children Award from Region 9 (Oakland, Wayne and Macomb Counties) of the Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA)
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Baker College
Voted Michigans Best Republican in a 2006 Detroit News poll of more than 105,000 readers
Named World Trader of the Year in 2005 by the Detroit Regional Chamber for his significant contributions to promote international trade in southeast Michigan
Contact Information:
2100 Pontiac Lake Road
Executive Office Building 41W
Waterford, MI 48328
Phone: 248/858-0480
L. Brooks Patterson is beginning his fifth four-year term as Oakland County Executive after winning re-election in 2008 by another large electoral margin. As the chief elected official in one of Americas most affluent and progressive counties, Mr. Patterson presides over a $769 million dollar annual budget for FY2008 and a county workforce of nearly 4,000 full and part time benefit eligible employees.
Contact Information: