Board Should Appoint Poisson As County Exec.: Sheriff Bouchard

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard recommended to the county's Board of commissioners to appoint a local official as the Oakland County Executive following the Aug. 3 death of L. Brooks Patterson. Gerald Poisson has been filling the role since Patterson's death, and Bouchard recommended the board appoint him until the next election.

"The Office of County Executive is in good hands with Jerry and the top-notch team which Brooks had assembled," Bouchard said in a release. Poisson's "experience and skill set are second to none," he said.

Poisson was sworn in as the interim County Executive Aug. 3 at 5 p.m.

Bouchard said appointing Poisson to finish the term "will create stability, continuity, and allow for an orderly transition to whomever the next County Executive may be after the general election next year," adding that a special election would cost taxpayers between $700,000 and $800,000.

"This is not a fiscally responsible decision to waste the money on an election which will net only a six-month term for the winner," he said.

Patterson announced in March that he was battling stage-4 pancreatic cancer. He said then that he would not be running for office again.

See more on Patch:

• Funeral Arrangements For L. Brooks Patterson
• New Oakland County Executive Sworn In
• Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson Dies
• A Tearful L. Brooks Patterson Returns to Work

"As Brooks is laid to rest tomorrow, may we come together, honor his legacy, and move forward with his projects and plans he had in place at the time of his death. My thoughts are with Brooks’ family as they continue to deal with the void he has left in their hearts," Bouchard said.