David Coulter (politician)

David W. Coulter is an American politician serving as the County Executive of Oakland County, Michigan since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Coulter previously served as the mayor of Ferndale, Michigan from 2011 to 2019, and as a member of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners from 2002 to 2010.

David Coulter
Coulter in 2022
Oakland County Executive
Assumed office
August 19, 2019[1]
Preceded byL. Brooks Patterson
Mayor of Ferndale, Michigan
In office
January 2011 – August 19, 2019
Preceded byCraig Covey
Succeeded byDan Martin[2]
Personal details
BornDetroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceFerndale, Michigan
Alma materMichigan State University
Harvard University
WebsiteDaveCoulter.com

Personal life and education

Coulter was raised in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, and attended St. Joan of Arc Grade School in the city. He graduated from Bishop Gallagher High School in Harper Woods, Michigan. Coulter earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University. In 2007, Coulter completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett Foundation LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.[3] He is openly gay.[4]

Career

Coulter has worked as a civil engineering draftsman and school teacher. He was employed for thirteen years by Michigan Consolidated Gas Company, served as the executive director of the Michigan AIDS Fund [3] and director of external affairs for the Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation.

Coulter was elected to the Oakland County Commission in 2002, defeating a 20-year incumbent by 86 votes. He served four terms on the Commission (2002-2010), also serving as Democratic minority leader.[5] He left the seat to run for a Michigan Senate seat in the 14th district in 2010, but lost in the primary to Vincent Gregory.[5][6] Coulter was appointed Mayor of Ferndale in January 2011 after his predecessor resigned.[6] Coulter was then elected to the two-year position in November 2011. He was re-elected in November 2013,[7] defeating his predecessor and two other challengers.[8] He ran unopposed to win re-election in November 2015 and 2017.

Coulter created the Mayor's Business Council in 2012, helping lead to a period of increased business and economic growth in the city.[9][10]

In 2013, Coulter, along with Congressman Sander Levin, undertook a challenge in which they spent less than $4.50 a day on food. They did so to protest cuts to food stamps.[11] The following year, Coulter became the first mayor in Michigan to perform same-sex marriages.[12]

On August 16, 2019, the Oakland County Commission voted to appoint Coulter to serve out the remainder of Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson's term as County Executive following Patterson's August 3, 2019 death from pancreatic cancer. Coulter ran for the position in the November 2020 election,[13] where he was a candidate for the full four-year term. He won the August Democratic primary by defeating county treasurer Andy Meisner. He then won the November general election over former Michigan State Senator Mike Kowall, becoming the first elected Democratic county executive.

Electoral history
Oakland County Executive general election, 2020[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Coulter (incumbent) 403,863 54.75
Republican Mike Kowall 321,803 43.62
Libertarian Connor Nepomuceno 11,441 1.55
Write-In 569 0.08
Total votes 737,676 100
Oakland County Executive special election, 2020[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Coulter (incumbent) 406,933 55.82
Republican Mike Kowall 321,151 44.05
Write-In 938 0.13
Total votes 729,022 100
Oakland County Executive Democratic primary election, 2020[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Coulter (incumbent) 109,761 53.96
Democratic Andy Meisner 93,475 45.95
Write-In 178 0.09
Total votes 203,414 100
2017 Mayoral Election, City of Ferndale (Non-Partisan)[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan David Coulter (incumbent) 1,511 95.63
Write-In 69 4.37
Total votes 1,580 100
2015 Mayoral Election, City of Ferndale (Non-Partisan)[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan David Coulter (incumbent) 1,884 96.32
Write-In 72 4.37
Total votes 1,956 100
2013 Mayoral Election, City of Ferndale (Non-Partisan)[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan David Coulter (incumbent) 1,634 47.67
Nonpartisan Craig Covey 1,137 33.17
Nonpartisan Linda Parton 335 9.77
Nonpartisan Sherry A. Wells 335 9.04
Write-In 12 0.35
Total votes 3,428 100
2011 Mayoral Election, City of Ferndale (Non-Partisan)[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan David Coulter 1,819 84.17
Nonpartisan Raymond Willis 326 15.09
Write-In 16 0.74
Total votes 2,161 100

References
  1. Hall, Christina (August 19, 2019). "David Coulter sworn in as Oakland County executive". Detroit Free Press.
  2. Koury, Mike (September 10, 2019). "Martin to serve as Ferndale mayor until end of year". www.candgnews.com. C & G Newspapers. At its Sept. 9 meeting, the council selected Councilman Dan Martin to serve as mayor for the next four months, while a new mayor will be elected in November and sworn in at the beginning of January.
  3. "David Coulter". Vote Michigan. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  4. Lacy, eric (16 October 2013). "Ferndale's Dave Coulter, Michigan's only openly gay mayor, weighs in on state's same-sex marriage ban". mlive.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  5. "Endorsements: State Senate in Oakland County districts". Detroit Free Press. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  6. Adolphus, Emmell Derra (15 February 2011). "Dave Coulter Sworn in as Ferndale's Mayor". Ferndale Patch. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  7. Ellis, Leslie (7 May 2013). "Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter Announces Re-Election Bid". Ferndale Patch. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  8. Laitner, Bill (12 August 2013). "Michigan's first gay mayor says he'll duel state's second one in Ferndale election". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  9. Schrader, Jessica (28 June 2012). "Mayor's Council Aims to Promote Business Growth in Ferndale - Government - Ferndale, MI Patch". Ferndale.patch.com. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  10. Pinho, Kirk (17 April 2014). "Ferndale's biz-friendly moves attract companies, spur expansions". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  11. Kavanaugh, Cathy (3 September 2013). "Ferndale Mayor David Coulter, Congressman Sander Levin take $4.50-a-day meal challenge". Oakland Press News. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  12. "Birmingham couple takes vows in Oakland County's first same-sex marriage". Archived from the original on 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  13. "Democrat Dave Coulter, mayor of Ferndale, named Oakland County executive". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2019-08-16.
  14. "Oakland County Results: County Executive general election, 2020". January 10, 2022 – via Oakland County Clerk.
  15. "Oakland County Results: County Executive special election, 2020". January 10, 2022 – via Oakland County Clerk.
  16. "Oakland County Results: County Executive Democratic Primary 2020". January 10, 2022 – via Oakland County Clerk.
  17. "November 7, 2017 Mayoral Election Results". 5 January 2022 – via Oakland County Clerk.
  18. "November 3, 2015 Mayoral Election Results". 5 January 2022 – via Oakland County Clerk.
  19. "November 5, 2013 Mayoral Election Results". 5 January 2022 – via Oakland County Clerk.
  20. "November 8, 2011 Mayoral Election Results". 5 January 2022 – via Oakland County Clerk.
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