David Coulter (politician)

David W. Coulter is the county executive of Oakland County, Michigan, and former mayor of Ferndale, Michigan, United States. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

David Coulter
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
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 served in the position until the November 2020 election,[13] where he was a candidate for the full four-year term. He won the August, 2020 Democratic primary by defeating county treasurer Andy Meisner 54%-46%. He then won the November 2020 general election over former Michigan State Senator Mike Kowall 56%-44%, becoming the first elected Democratic county executive.

Electoral history

2011 Mayoral
Dave Coulter 84.2%
Ray Willis 15.1%

2013 Mayoral
Dave Coulter 47.7%
Craig Covey 33.2%
Linda Parton 9.8%
Sherry Wells 9.0%

2015 Mayoral

Unopposed

2017 Mayoral

Unopposed

2020 County Executive (primary)

Dave Coulter 54.0%
Andy Meisner 46.0%

2020 County Executive (general)

Dave Coulter 55.7%
Mike Kowall 44.3%

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. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  12. http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20140322/birmingham-couple-takes-vows-in-oakland-countys-first-same-sex-marriage
  13. "Democrat Dave Coulter, mayor of Ferndale, named Oakland County executive". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2019-08-16.
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