HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2006.03.22 - 28188March 23, 2006
REPORT (MISC. #06017)
BY: General Government Committee, William R. Patterson, Chairperson
IN RE: MR #06017 - Board of Commissioners - Support for Special Election for the
29th District
TO: The Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The General Government Committee having reviewed the above-titled resolution on
March 13, 2006, reports with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted with the
following amendments.
Change Title
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE
29TH DISTRICT VACATED LEGISLATIVE OFFICES
Amend the NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED paragraph.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners hereby urges the Governor and Michigan Legislature to fesensider--the
previeus-eleeision-ahet adopt legislation that will provide for a law to schedule an
expeditious special election to fill the any vacancy for the 29th House District seat in
March, 2006, that will extend for more than six (6) months to ensure that the
residents, taxpayers, businesses, schools and communities withth-the-Gity-ef-PentiaG
and the City of Auburn Hills are represented in the State Legislature by a duly elected
State Representative or State Senator.
Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I move the acceptance
of the foregoing report.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
General Government Committee:
Motion carried
Ayes: KowaII, Molnar, Long, Crawford, Wilson, Patterson
Nays: Gregory, Coulter, Melton, Hatchett
Miscellaneous Resolution #06017
BY: Commissioner Eric S. Wilson, District #3
RE: Board of Commissioners - Support for Special Election for the 29 th District
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS Governor Jennifer Granholm announced that in order to fill vacant House seats
in the 29th District and 56th District, special elections will be held that are concurrent with
the regularly scheduled August primary and November General Election; and
WHEREAS however, the vacant seat serving the 23rd Senate District will have a special
election held in mid-March; and
WHEREAS the 29th House District seat, has been vacated by the Honorable Clarence
Phillips who was elected Mayor of the City of Pontiac; and
WHEREAS the 29th House District seat represents the communities of Pontiac and Auburn
Hills. These vital communities will go without representation for nearly a year if a special
election is not held until the regularly scheduled Primary and General Elections; and
WHEREAS in addition to over 20,000 residents, Auburn Hills is home to DaimlerChrysler,
Oakland Community College, Baker College, Oakland University and four school districts;
and
WHEREAS in addition to the 50,000 residents, Pontiac has a workforce of 35,000 and a
school district that enrolls over 10,000 students; and
WHEREAS many high-tech and auto industry-related companies are members of
Automation Alley which is significantly linked to the communities of Pontiac and Auburn
Hills, with many global corporations being located within these borders; and
WHEREAS although there is a cost associated with holding a special election as early as
March, both the Oakland Press and House Speaker Craig DeRoche have rightfully pointed
out that a year is too long for communities to wait for representation.
WHEREAS holding a special election to fill a vacancy is not unprecedented in Oakland
County. The resignation of State Senator Mike Rogers was filled at a special election held
on March 20, 2001 and a vacancy created by the January 1999 resignation of State
Senator Michael Bouchard was filled at a special election held on March 16, 1999; and
WHEREAS under the Michigan Constitution and the Michigan Election Law, the decision
to call for a special election to fill a vacancy in the office of a state representative or state
senator, as well as, the selection of dates for a special election are left to the discretion of
the Governor.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
hereby urges the Governor to reconsider the previous decision and schedule a special
election to fill the vacancy for the 29th House District seat in March 2006, to ensure that the
Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Commissioner Eric S. Wilson
District #3
Csommisigioner Hugh D. Crawfpt'd
Distrid#9
Commissioner SueSue Ann Dougl
District #12
Commissioner Miles E. Palmer
District #1
Commissioner Michael R
District #14
issioner Jeff Potter
District #8
Commissioner Christine A. Ldoko,
District #7
i(vtitoLco-v Lxv--
Commissioner q
District,#16
"ssioneFJOhn A. Scott
Strict #5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners requests the
Oakland County Clerk to forward copies of this adopted resolution to Governor Jennifer Granholm,
House Speaker Craig DeRoche, the City of Pontiac, the City of Auburn Hills, Mayor Clarence Phillips,
Oakland County's legislative lobbyists and the Oakland County delegation to the state legislature.
Commissione Thomas F. Middleton
District #4
e-Lt,tikPct ,it&ivi
Commissioner William R. Patterson
District #1
ssioner Eileen T. !Owen
--
District #6
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Commissioner Chuck Moss
District #20
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Commissioner, Bill Bullard, Jr.
District
rtilAt4t,L,
Commissioner William D. Molnar
District #13
Commissioner
District #
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Resolution #06017 January 19, 2006
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.
347/1
Resolution #06017 March 23, 2006
Moved by Patterson supported by Wilson the resolution be adopted.
Moved by Patterson supported by Wilson the General Government Committee Report be accepted.
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the report was accepted.
Moved by Patterson supported by Wilson the resolution be amended to coincide with the recommendation in
the General Government Committee Report.
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the amendment carried.
Discussion followed.
Moved by Woodward supported by Hatchett the resolution be amended to add the following "BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED" paragraph after the "NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED" paragraph:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, recognizing
the financial challenges facing our local communities, and should such proposed legislation
be enacted, Oakland County will reimburse all of Oakland's cities, villages, and townships for
costs incurred with having a special election.
Discussion followed.
Vote on amendment:
AYES: Melton, Nash, Suarez, Woodward, Zack, Coleman, Coulter, Gregory, Hatchett. (9)
NAYS: KowaII, Long, Middleton, Molnar, Moss, Palmer, Patterson, Potter, Rogers, Scott, Wilson,
Bullard, Crawford, Douglas. (14)
A sufficient majority not having voted in favor, the amendment failed.
As a "point of order", Commissioner Douglas stated that she wanted to clarify that Pontiac Mayor Clarence
Phillips was doing a good job.
Discussion followed.
Vote on resolution, as amended:
AYES: Long, Middleton, Molnar, Moss, Palmer, Patterson, Potter, Rogers, Scott, Wilson, Bullard,
Crawford, Douglas, KowaII. (14)
NAYS: Melton, Nash, Suarez, Woodward, Zack, Coleman, Coulter, Gregory, Hatchett. (9)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution, as amended, was adopted.
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Ruth Johnson, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on March 23, 2006,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County of Oakland at
Pontiac, Michigan this 23rd day of March, 2006.
Ruths , County Clerk ,n•n••