The three largest counties in Michigan are led by an elected county executive serving four-year terms. Those three officials are David Coulter in Oakland County, Warren Evans in Wayne County, and Mark Hackel in Macomb County.
These three executives are the “Chief Executive Officers” of their respective counties, responsible for everything from approving budgets to establishing legislative goals and building out departments.
David Coulter
Coulter has been the Oakland County Executive since August 2019, being appointed by the Board of Commissioners when Executive L. Brooks Patterson passed away earlier in the year. Coulter has been an advocate for protecting Oakland’s AAA bond rating, passing bipartisan budgets every fiscal year that maintain budgetary responsibility. Additionally, Coulter has led the county towards their education attainment goal of 80% by 2030, far exceeding the state’s and Detroit Regional Chamber’s goal of 60% by 2030.
Coulter was formerly the mayor of Ferndale, as well as previously working for the Children’s Foundation of Michigan, Michigan AIDS Fund, Michigan Consolidated Gas Company, and working as a middle school teacher.
Warren Evans
First elected to the County Executive role in 2014, Evans guided the county out of the Great Recession by transforming Wayne County’s $134 million deficit into a budget surplus, avoiding bankruptcy for the state’s most populous county. Evans has been committed to Wayne County for his entire career, serving in several different positions in county government, most notably sheriff.
Evans has focused on building back a strong Wayne County, which has the fastest-growing community in the entire state. His priorities include targeting childhood poverty and expanding transit options in the region.
Mark Hackel
Hackel is the longest-serving county executive of the group, being elected in 2011. Coming from a public safety background, Hackel’s most recent achievement has been the development of a new $250 million central intake and assessment center at the site of the Macomb County jail, without raising taxes on the county. Additionally, Hackel was able to construct 2024’s “Most Connected Road” in America, completing a five-year project to innovate Mound Road.
Looking forward, Hackel is committed to securing new investments in the Selfridge National Guard base in Chesterfield and expanding opportunities for the defense industry in Warren and Sterling Heights.
To learn more about these three county executives, join the Chamber on April 30 for the fourth annual Meet Southeast Michigan’s County Leaders breakfast. The three executives will be joined on stage with CBS Detroit and Detroit Free Press’ Carol Cain for a moderated discussion and audience Q&A.