Mark Hackel

Mark Allen Hackel (born May 15, 1962) is a politician and the County Executive of Macomb County, Michigan. He is the first person to hold that position, which was established by a new charter for county government that voters approved in 2008. He was elected to a four-year term in 2010 and strongly re-elected in 2014 and 2018.

Mark A. Hackel
1st Macomb County Executive
Assumed office
January 1, 2011
Preceded byPosition established
51st Macomb County Sheriff
In office
January 1, 2001 – December 31, 2010
Preceded byRonald Tuscany
Succeeded byAnthony Wickersham
Personal details
Born (1962-05-15) May 15, 1962
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Tracie Damschroder
​
(m. 2014)​
Alma materWayne State University
Central Michigan University

During this period, he and the Board of County Commissioners have sometimes disagreed about the relative limits of their authorities under the new charter. In 2012 he sued the Board after it overrode his veto on a contract, and was upheld by the Circuit County Court. But the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Board, saying it clearly had "the discretionary authority to approve contracts" under the County Charter.[1]

While Hackel has run successfully as a Democratic Party candidate for each of his elected positions, he has had ambivalent relations with the party and its other candidates. In 2013 he asked not to be listed as a Democrat in the Macomb County register of elected officeholders. In 2014 he initially declined to endorse Democratic former US Congressman Mark Schauer as the party's candidate for governor. In addition, since being elected as County Executive, Hackel has sometimes crossed party lines in supporting Republican candidates for county offices when there were Democratic candidates also running. He has suggested he might run for governor as an independent.

Prior to serving as County Executive, Hackel served 10 years as Macomb County Sheriff, from 2001–2010, being elected to four-year terms in 2000, 2004 and 2008. He had served in the sheriff's department since 1981, part of his father's long tenure as elected sheriff of the county. During this time, Hackel also completed a master's in public administration at Central Michigan University, and advanced law enforcement training at both FBI and US Secret Service facilities. He resigned as Sheriff on December 31, 2010 to begin his term as County Executive.

Background

Born in Detroit, Michigan, to Ada and William H. Hackel,[2] Mark Hackel is the second of two sons. He attended public schools. By high school his family had moved to Sterling Heights, Michigan, where he graduated from the high school. He followed his father into a career in law enforcement. Hackel's brother, William Hackel III, became an attorney. In July 2009 he was appointed as judge of the second division Michigan's 42nd District Court by Governor Jennifer Granholm.[3]

After years as an officer, his father William H. Hackel was elected as Sheriff of Macomb County in 1976. He was repeatedly re-elected and served six consecutive terms, from 1977 to 2000.[4][5]

Mark Hackel earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Wayne State University in Criminal Justice, and joined the sheriff's department in Macomb County in 1981. He later earned a master's degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. While working at the sheriff's department, he also received training at the FBI National Academy and the U.S. Secret Service's dignitary protection school.

Hackel has taught classes in criminal justice and leadership at Macomb Community College, where he met his future wife, Tracie Damschroder.[6] He also taught at Wayne State University. Since being elected as county executive, he has hosted a local cable show called Executive Focus.[7]

Macomb County Sheriff

Hackel's father, William H. Hackel, resigned from the sheriff's position on April 27, 2000, after a jury in the Isabella County Court convicted him of rape: two counts of third-degree criminal-sexual conduct from an incident the previous year.[2][4] He was succeeded by Undersheriff Ronald P. Tuscany, who served as interim Sheriff for the final seven months of Hackel's term.[5] William H. Hackel was sentenced to 3 to 15 years in prison by Isabella County Circuit Court Judge Paul Chamberlain.[8] He was paroled and released from prison on April 24, 2003.[9]

Mark Hackel, his son, was one of 15 candidates to run in the primary on August 8, 2000 for the Democratic Party nomination for Macomb County Sheriff. Likely benefiting from name recognition, Hackel captured 46% of the vote.[10] He defeated Republican Steve Thomas in the general election for Sheriff in November 2000, winning 52% of the vote to become County Sheriff. Hackel won re-election in 2004 and 2008, defeating Republican candidate Kristi Dean both times. In his 2008 victory, Hackel received 78.4 percent of the vote and set a new record of 314,778 total votes for a county-wide elected office.[11]

In early 2007 Hackel and his office received national attention during their investigation of the homicide death of Tara Grant, whose body was found dismembered. Her husband, Stephen Grant, confessed to police and was charged with murder.[12] Grant was convicted of second-degree murder in his wife's death in December 2007[13] and was sentenced to 50 to 80 years in prison by Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Diane Druzinski in February 2008.[14]

County Executive

On December 3, 2008, Hackel announced that he had formed an exploratory committee looking at the possibility of a run for Governor of Michigan in 2010. He later decided to run instead for the new position of Macomb County Executive, which had been approved by voters in 2008.[15] Unopposed in the Democratic primary, Hackel won the nomination.

On November 2, 2010 he was elected as the first Macomb County Executive, receiving 66 percent of the vote and defeating Republican Randell Shaffer, who had 31 percent, and Libertarian Erin Stahl, who had 3 percent.[16] Hackel resigned his position as sheriff on December 31, 2010 and took office as County Executive for a four-year term starting on January 1, 2011.[17] On December 7, 2010 Hackel named Mark Deldin, Chippewa Valley Schools Superintendent, as his Deputy County Executive.[18]

In November 2014, Hackel defeated Republican David Novak to win a second-term as County Executive, taking 69 percent of almost 260,000 votes.[19]

He easily won a third term in November 2018.

Clashes with Macomb Board of Commissioners

Hackel and the members of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners each had new roles to define under the 2008 county charter, and have sometimes disagreed over the extent of their relative authorities. In October 2011 they disagreed on whether the Board or Hackel had the final authority to approve contracts for the county.[20]

On February 29, 2012, Hackel sued the Board in Macomb County Circuit over its override of one of his vetoes of a series of contracts.[21] Hackel said of the lawsuit

"...the (Hackel) administration argues that the board's definition of contracts and purchases, including multiple expenditures related to the same item or project, violates the "clear separation of powers" that voters embraced in the charter. For example, the commissioners want to approve or reject a series of related contracts that add up to $35,000 over a 1-year period.".[22]

On May 14, 2012, Circuit Court Judge John Foster ruled in Hackel's favor, saying, "the power to make expenditures following an appropriation is an executive function which is properly exercised by the County Executive."[23] Hackel said of the ruling, "I think it's going to finally get them (the Board) to understand the relationship. They do not run county government. They should just allow me to do my job according to the charter."[24]

The Board, led by Chairwoman Kathy Vosburg, R-Chesterfield, appealed the decision to the Michigan Court of Appeals. In a unanimous decision announced on October 30, 2012, the court reversed the lower court decision, ruling against Hackel, saying, "The Macomb County Charter unambiguously grants to the Commission the discretionary authority to approve contracts."[1] Hackel said, "We don't see this as an unfavorable ruling even though the terminology is it's overturning the ruling of the circuit court." The Hackel administration did not appeal the ruling to the Michigan Supreme Court.

In 2013, Hackel told reporters that his New Year's resolution was to communicate with the Board on a one-on-one basis. He said, "I am here looking to work with you. There are tremendous opportunities in Macomb County to take advantage of, and I hope to engage all of you in working toward that progress."[25]

Relations with the Democratic Party

While Hackel has been successful in winning Democratic Party nominations and general elections, his relations with the Party and other candidates has been at best ambivalent at times. He has crossed party lines to endorse Republican candidates for some county and state offices, offending some party regulars. In addition, some fellow Democrats in Macomb County have said that he is too willing to work with Republicans, including Gov. Rick Snyder. In 2013, Hackel instructed the County Clerk's office not to identify him as a Democrat in the county directory of elected officials.[26]

During Michigan's gubernatorial election in 2014, Hackel originally said that he would stay neutral, rather than endorsing the presumptive Democratic nominee, former US Congressman Mark Schauer.[27] Hackel eventually "reluctantly" endorsed Schauer,[28] who was defeated by the incumbent Snyder.

In 2016, Hackel crossed party lines by endorsing Republican U.S. Representative Candice Miller, a former Macomb County Treasurer with whom he had worked, in her bid to unseat 6-term Democratic incumbent Anthony Marrocco in the race for Macomb County Public Works Commissioner. He said, "The point is to endorse people that you believe are the ones that are going to be the most effective in making things happen. The working relationship I would get with a person like Candice Miller would far exceed any expectations the public would have or that I would have."[29]

In 2018, despite having endorsed the statewide Democratic ticket, Hackel refused to back Fred Miller, the Democratic nominee for the 2018 special election for Macomb County Clerk. Hackel initially backed state senator Steve Bieda in the Democratic primary.[30] After Miller won the nomination, Hackel supported Miller's Republican opponent, Lisa Sinclair, although they had never met.[31] Hackel said that he felt Miller and County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh had conspired to "rig" the 2016 clerk election. Miller filed to run minutes before Michigan's deadline, in order to appear on the August primary ballot; while at the same time, Sabaugh withdrew from the race minutes before Michigan's deadline to be removed from the ballot, essentially leaving the Democratic nomination open to Miller.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Hackel expressed support for a citizen-backed initiative to repeal a 1945 law that gives Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer powers to declare a state of emergency without the consent of the state legislature. Whitmer has used the emergency powers to keep many sections of the Michigan economy completely or partially closed during the pandemic.[32]

Political future

Hackel has three times flirted with running for Governor of Michigan, considering running in the 2010, 2014, and 2018 elections. He put out early feelers In 2008 and in 2012.[33] Hackel eventually decided to run for and was elected as Macomb County Executive in 2010. The Republican candidate, Rick Snyder, won the governorship.[34]

In October 2012, Hackel was reportedly considering a run at the governorship in 2014.[35] But in January 2013, Hackel announced that he would not run for governor in 2014, but would instead focus on running for re-election as County Executive.[6]

Again in May 2017, Hackel suggested he might run for governor, either as a Democrat or independent.[36] He eventually ran for a third term as County Executive,[37] and again won the primary and general elections by a wide margin.[38][39]

Electoral history
2000 Macomb County Sheriff Democratic Primary[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark Hackel 22,670 46.1
Democratic Ronald Lupo 11,153 22.7
Democratic Jim Haggerty 5,529 11.2
Democratic Gregory Stone 1,505 3.1
Democratic Charles Missig 1,380 2.8
Democratic Ronald Krueger 1,247 2.5
Democratic Eugene Groesbeck 1,191 2.4
Democratic Nicole Chase 1,183 2.4
Democratic Alan Shepperd 1,006 2.0
Democratic Michael Locke 953 1.9
Democratic Christian Pfeffer 392 0.8
Democratic Ronald Eldridge 362 0.7
Democratic Ron Wolber 359 0.7
Democratic Jimmie Byrd 270 0.5
2000 Macomb County Sheriff election[41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mark Hackel 172,466 52.0 -15.1
Republican Steve Thomas 150,990 45.5 +12.6
Libertarian Albert Titran 4,122 1.2 N/A
Reform Joe Grahm 4,093 1.2 N/A
Majority 21,476 6.5 -27.7
Turnout 331,671 +18.1
Democratic hold
2004 Macomb County Sheriff election[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mark Hackel (I) 275,723 71.9 +19.9
Republican Kristi Dean 107,848 28.1 -17.4
Majority 167,875 43.8 +37.3
Turnout 383,571 +15.6
Democratic hold
2008 Macomb County Sheriff election[43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mark Hackel (I) 314,816 78.4 +6.5
Republican Kristi Dean 86,810 21.6 -6.5
Majority 228,006 56.8 +13.0
Turnout 401,626 +21.1
Democratic hold
2010 Macomb County Executive election[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark Hackel 174,245 65.8
Republican Randel Shaffer 81,981 31.0
Libertarian Erin Stahl 8,490 3.2
Majority 92,264 34.9
Turnout 264,716
2014 Macomb County Executive election[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mark Hackel (I) 179,041 69.0 +3.2
Republican David J. Novak 80,290 31.0 0.0
Majority 98,751 38.0 +3.1
Turnout 259,331 -2.0
Democratic hold
2018 Macomb County Executive election, Democratic Primary[46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark Hackel (I) 71,206 83.1
Democratic Arnold Simkus 14,444 16.9
Majority 56,762 66.2 -33.8
Turnout 85,650 +111.8
2018 Macomb County Executive election[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mark Hackel (incumbent) 231,389 67.2 -1.8
Republican Joseph M. Hunt 113,121 32.8 +1.8
Majority 100,268 34.4 -3.6
Turnout 344,510 +32.8
Democratic hold

References
  1. "No. 310402 Macomb Circuit Court MARK HACKEL v MACOMB COUNTY COMMISSION" (PDF). October 30, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  2. AP (Associated Press) (27 April 2000). "Mich. Sheriff Convicted of Rape". Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  3. "Granholm Appoints Hackel as Judge of 42-2 District Court". Michigan's Former Governors. July 30, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  4. Anthony Judnich (April 28, 2000). "Hackel found guilty of rape". Central Michigan Life. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  5. "Macomb County Sheriff History".
  6. Chad Selweski (February 22, 2013). "Mark Hackel preparing for marriage, not a run for governor". Macomb Daily.
  7. "Mark A. Hackel, Macomb County Executive". Archived from the original on 2012-03-07.
  8. Anthony Judnich (May 17, 2000). "Hackel sentenced to 3-15 years in prison". Central Michigan Life. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  9. ALEXA CAPELOTO (April 24, 2003). "Ex-Macomb sheriff Hackel is free today". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  10. "2000 Vote: Sheriff". Macomb County Clerk's Office. 2000-08-08. Archived from the original on 2010-05-30. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  11. Mitch Hotts (December 4, 2008). "Hackel reveals plan to run for governor". Macomb Daily. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  12. ARBOSCELLO, CHRISTY (5 March 2007). "Grant admits he killed and cut up wife, sheriff says". The Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original (online) on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-03-05.
  13. "Jury finds Stephen Grant guilty of 2nd-degree murder". Macomb Daily. December 21, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  14. "Grant sentenced to 50-80 years". Associated Press. February 21, 2008. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  15. Jonathan Oosting (February 24, 2010). "Sheriff Mark Hackel expected to launch campaign for Macomb County Executive (or governor?)". MLive.com. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  16. "Macomb County Election Results". Detroit Free Press. November 3, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  17. Christina Hall (November 4, 2010). "Hackel gets ready to step into his new role". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  18. Christian Hall (December 7, 2010). "Macomb County Executive-elect Mark Hackel chooses school chief as deputy executive". Detroit Free Press.
  19. Chad Selweski (November 4, 2014). "Hackel easily wins re-election as Macomb Executive". Macomb Daily. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  20. Eric D. Lawrence (October 23, 2011). "Macomb County commissioners clash with Executive Mark Hackel". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  21. "Hackel Files Suit Against Board Of Commissioners". CBS Detroit. February 29, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  22. Chad Selweski (March 7, 2012), "Macomb County board discusses exec Mark Hackel's lawsuit", Macomb Daily, archived from the original on March 9, 2012, retrieved December 14, 2018
  23. "MACOMB COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Case No. 2012-0916-CZ MARK HACKEL, Macomb County Executive, vs. MACOMB COUNTY COMMISSION" (PDF). May 14, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-03. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  24. Eric D. Lawrence (May 14, 2012). "Judge gives Mark Hackel court victory over commissioners". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  25. Chad Selweski (January 4, 2013). "Hackel, new board chair vow civility". The Voice. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  26. Chad Selewski and Jeff Payne (July 9, 2013). "County exec Hackel shuns Democratic label". Macomb Daily. Retrieved June 29, 2016.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  27. Tim Skubick (May 28, 2014). "Tim Skubick: 1 year later, Macomb County's Mark Hackel still doesn't endorse Mark Schauer". MLive.com. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  28. Jack Lessenberry (August 7, 2015). "Macomb Executive Mark Hackel has Options". Dome Magazine. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  29. Lauren Gibbons (June 2, 2016). "Macomb Executive Mark Hackel excited Candice Miller could return to local politics". MLive. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  30. Jameson Cook (July 10, 2018). "Bieda, Miller raise political heat in Macomb County clerk race". Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  31. Jameson Cook (October 26, 2018). "Hackel supports Republican clerk candidate over fellow Democrat". Macomb Daily. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  32. Craig Mauger (September 2, 2020). "Macomb County's Hackel, a Democrat, backs petition to limit Whitmer's emergency power". The Detroit News. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  33. "Sheriff Considers Running for Governor". WILX.com. December 3, 2008. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  34. "Election Results GENERAL ELECTION". November 2, 2010. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  35. "Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel again mulling a run for governor?". Macomb Daily. October 5, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  36. Nolan Finley and Ingrid Jacques (May 31, 2017). "Mark Hackel: Better than 50-50 chance of gov run". The Detroit News. Retrieved September 14, 2017.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  37. Christina Hall (April 16, 2018). "Karen Spranger's campaign manager runs for county exec, while Mark Hackel seeks 3rd term". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  38. Christina Hall (August 7, 2018). "Miller wins tight race for Democratic nod for Macomb County clerk". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  39. Jameson Cook (November 7, 2018). "Fred Miller wins clerk seat in close race, Mark Hackel rolls to third term". Macomb Daily. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  40. "2000 Macomb County Sheriff Democratic Primary" (PDF). August 8, 2000. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  41. "2000 Macomb County Sheriff Election". November 7, 2000. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  42. "2004 Macomb County Sheriff Election". November 2, 2004. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  43. "2008 Macomb County Sheriff Election". November 19, 2008. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  44. "2010 Macomb County Executive Election". November 15, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  45. "2014 Macomb County Executive Election". November 5, 2014.
  46. "2018 Macomb County Executive Election". August 17, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  47. "2018 Macomb County Executive Election". November 20, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
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