The Governor of the State of Michigan and the Oakland County executive both presented their 'state of' speeches at the same time. Through the beauty of the internet and webcasting I was able to watch both presentations simultaneously. My dillema was to watch the same, undelivered promises of the Gov. or watch an Oakland county executive who has delivered and will continue to deliver. The key word here is 'deliver'. I show more interest and committment to a leader who has delivered against one who hasnt like the Gov. of Michigan. Please watch the video of Executive Patterson's speech and let me know what you think. Here is the link to the speech: http://www.oakgov.com/exec/speeches/2008_soc/index.html -

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Story: L. Brooks Patterson presented the State of Oakland County on 2.4.09. This county is one of the leaders in the country for Health Care, Technology , Biomedical Sciences, Green Techologies. The webcast really shows how innovative the leadership is and is certainly worth a view. Link to webcast: L. Brooks Patterson is beginning his fifth four-year term as Oakland County Executive after winning re-election in 2008 by another large electoral margin. As the chief elected official in one of Americas most affluent and progressive counties, Mr. Patterson presides over a $769 million dollar annual budget for FY2008 and a county workforce of nearly 4,000 full and part time benefit eligible employees. During the 16 years of the Patterson administration, Oakland County government has earned respect from Wall Street for its solid tax base and sound financial policies by attaining and maintaining a coveted AAA bond rating, which only 34 of the nation's 3,200 counties have received. Innovative programs Mr. Patterson has launched include: Mandarin Chinese In his 2007 State of the County Address, Mr. Patterson, noting the challenges presented by Chinas emergence as a world economic power, called for Oakland County to be the first county in America to teach Mandarin Chinese in all 28 public school districts. Educators responded and today the Mandarin Chinese language is taught in 22 school districts in Oakland County while Mandarin Culture and History is taught in all 28 school districts. Emerging Sectors An initiative focused on identifying the top ten emerging and promising business sectors for the new economy of the 21st Century that Oakland County might be able to attract for future job growth and long lasting economic stability. Companies in these emerging sectors are involved in such cutting edge technologies as biotechnology, nanotechnology, wireless communications and alternative energy. Count Your Steps A pedometer walking program to target childhood obesity that involves providing pedometers to 30,000 third and fourth grade students in Oakland Countys public, private and charter schools. All money is raised through private donations; no taxpayers' funds are involved. Successful Health Care Cost Containment Initiative Under Mr. Pattersons leadership, Oakland County is the first county in America to have eliminated its unfunded liability for employee and retiree health care. Through the creative and innovative use of Trust Certificates, Mr. Patterson has fully funded employee and retiree health care while at the same time saved the taxpayers of Oakland County over $150 million. Automation Alley Southeast Michigans premier high-tech consortium which Mr. Patterson founded in 1998, now boasts a membership roster of more than 980 companies. Automation Alley has received the Presidents E Award for excellence in exporting presented personally by President George W. Bush during a White House ceremony. Mr. Pattersons Employee Suggestion Program has generated more than $5 million worth of taxpayer savings since 1993 while his Casual Day Program has distributed approximately $450,000 to local charities over the past 14 years. (Neither involves taxpayers' funds.) Mr. Patterson founded Arts, Beats & Eats in 1998. The four-day, family-oriented fun-fest in downtown Pontiac features great food, wonderful music and extraordinary art. The event, ranked as one of the top 10 Art Fairs in America, attracts an estimated 1.4 million people annually. Mr. Patterson also established the Brooksie Way Half Marathon and 5K Race which attracted some 4,000 participants in its inaugural debut on October 5, 2008 at Oakland University in Rochester. The race is named in honor of his son, Brooks Stuart Patterson, who was killed in a snowmobiling accident. Although Mr. Patterson has been involved in a number of charities, perhaps the one closest to his heart is The Rainbow Connection, which he founded in 1980 following the tragic death of a close friend and his two children in a private plane crash. To honor the memory of the children, Mr. Patterson established The Rainbow Connection which grants wishes to terminally ill children. Mr. Patterson serves as president of this organization.

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce Annual Award for Distinguished Service and Leadership for spearheading a successful statewide petition drive to repeal the Single Business Tax and for exemplary service as a local government official

Named by Government Technology Magazine as one of the Top 25 individuals in America in 2006 for pushing the boundaries of government as usual

2007 Rotary Foundation of Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow

http://www.oakgov.com/exec/assets/images/a_green.gif%3Ctd%3EBloomfield Hills Rotary Foundation 2007 Distinguished Community Leader Award</td> http://www.oakgov.com/exec/assets/images/a_green.gif%3Ctd%3EHonorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Kettering University in Flint (2006)</td> http://www.oakgov.com/exec/assets/images/a_green.gif!%3C/td> <td>Lighthouse Humanitarian Award (2004)</td> http://www.oakgov.com/exec/assets/images/a_green.gifCorp! Magazine Man of the Decade (2000)</td> http://www.oakgov.com/exec/assets/images/a_green.gif%3Ctd%3EArts, Beats & Eats Foundation Quality of Life Award (2003)!http://www.oakgov.com/exec/assets/images/a_green.gif>

Automation Alley CEO Legend of the Year (2003)

http://www.oakgov.com/exec/assets/images/a_green.gif <td>NAACP Recognition Dinner (2004)</td> http://www.oakgov.com/exec/assets/images/a_green.gif!%3C/td

<td>2005 Visionary Award from the Michigan Department of Information Technology for leadership support of technology initiatives</td> !http://www.oakgov.com/exec/assets/images/a_green.gif!</td> <td>Champion for Children Award from Region 9 (Oakland, Wayne and Macomb Counties) of the Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA)</td> !http://www.oakgov.com/exec/assets/images/a_green.gif<td>Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Baker College</td> !http://www.oakgov.com/exec/assets/images/a_green.gif!</td><td>Voted Michigans Best Republican in a 2006 Detroit News poll of more than 105,000 readers</td>

http://www.oakgov.com/exec/assets/images/a_green.gif%3Ctd%3ENamed World Trader of the Year in 2005 by the Detroit Regional Chamber for his significant contributions to promote international trade in southeast Michigan</td> Story:

L. Brooks Patterson as Michigan's governor?

Posted by Paula Gardner | Michigan Business Review January 08, 2009 09:57AM

Oakland Business Review archives.Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. Paula Gardner is editor of Michigan Business Review in Ann Arbor, Oakland and Tri-Cities. While the rest of us are thinking about surviving 2009, it appears that L. Brooks Patterson is looking ahead to 2010. The Oakland County executive is reportedly considering a run for governor, an effort that will be determined this weekend after he gauges support during a booster event. The implications if Patterson joins the race already add a little spice to the question: "Who on earth will emerge as a real leadership option?" Patterson, of course, is a real leader: Oakland County's finances and future appear rock-solid, thanks to his management team and efforts - like Automation Alley and the more recent health care destination initiative - to mobilize the county's strengths and position it for success. The leadership comes with a huge dose of personality, one that's borne and bred controversy for at least as long as he's been in office. From mocking Detroit to drunken driving issues, Patterson makes headlines for more than what he accomplishes in his office. So what could we get with Patterson as governor? Here's my top 5 reasons that we shouldn't laugh him off: 1. Sound fiscal leadership across the state, in the mold of where Oakland County stands today. 2. A dose of entrepreneurialism. Remember the four-day workweek? Fresh ideas like that could inspire significant change among same old-same old state offices. 3. An unrelenting advocate. Does anyone think Patterson doesn't live and breathe Oakland? If he can elevate that to a statewide attitude, we're golden - we won't need to wonder if the governor is even noticing job losses. 4. Accountability for Detroit. The city is a disaster, bringing implications across the state, and its next mayor needs stamina of steel to turn it around - yet who even knows if, amid the crowded mayoral field, the most skilled candidate will win? Either way, Patterson has shown that he's not intimidated by the city's political bloc. 5. Some down-home sarcasm and snark. Maybe a recession means it's OK to smack-down anyone who keeps up with the same old arguments? East Michigan v. West Michigan, new economy v. old economy, Democrats v. Republicans, MIchigan Business Tax v. - well no one, but it still seems to linger - bring on Patterson, and we'd all be cutting through the b.s. a little bit faster. In fact, I'd welcome those attributes in any governor or leading candidate for the office right now, Patterson or not. Link: http://blog.mlive.com/paulagardner/2009/01/l_brooks_patterson_as_michigan.html -

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Patterson's address unveils new pitch

By JOHN WISELY • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • February 3, 2009 Oakland County has 4,337 medical facilities employing more than 93,000 people and County Executive L. Brooks Patterson wants to tout it through a branding campaign similar to the county's Automation Alley Our Medical Main Street mission is to take all of these disparate medical entities ... and roll them into a new branding initiative which, when properly marketed, will become a magnet," Patterson said during his annual State of the County address Tuesday. Patterson said Oakland's hospitals, nursing homes, medical schools and medical manufacturers offer a growth opportunity amid auto retrenchment. "Oakland County has the opportunity to add another 45,000 jobs in the health care!http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/mag-glass_10x10.gif! sector over the next six to eight years if we aggressively market what we have," Patterson said. Jobs dominated Patterson's address, as he noted Michigan's 10.6% unemployment rate!http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/mag-glass_10x10.gif!. The county's workforce development division has been helping place laid-off workers, and the county is completing an employer survey to determine the skills companies want. As for Patterson's political aspirations, he said he would announce in six to eight weeks his decision on whether to run for governor, a move he has been exploring. For now, he said he is focused on steering the state's wealthiest county through the economic storm: Oakland's balanced budget, AAA bond rating and management team provide the foundation for rebound, he said.