L. Brooks Patterson

L. Brooks Patterson was a prominent Republican politician and attorney who served as the chief executive of Oakland County, Michigan for over a quarter-century. First elected as the county's Prosecuting Attorney in 1972, he later became the Oakland County Executive in 1993, a position he held until his death in 2019. Known for his fiscally conservative policies, sharp political rhetoric, and transformative economic development initiatives, he was a dominant and often polarizing figure in Michigan politics.

Early life and education

Lewis Brooks Patterson was born on January 4, 1939, in Detroit, the son of a General Motors factory worker. He attended Catholic schools in the city before enrolling at the University of Detroit, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1961. He subsequently served in the United States Army from 1962 to 1964. Following his military service, Patterson returned to Detroit to attend the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1967.

Legal and political career

After law school, Patterson worked in private practice before launching his political career. In 1972, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Oakland County, defeating incumbent Thomas G. Plunkett. He gained statewide fame for his prosecution of G. Mennen Williams in the Pontiac school busing case. Patterson served as Prosecuting Attorney for 16 years, becoming known as a tough law-and-order official. During this period, he also made an unsuccessful run for Michigan Attorney General in 1978, losing to Frank J. Kelley.

Oakland County Executive

After leaving the prosecutor's office, Patterson was elected the first Republican Oakland County Executive in 1992, taking office in January 1993. He was re-elected six times, often by wide margins. His tenure was marked by a focus on economic development, notably through the "Automation Alley" technology consortium and the "Emerging Sectors" program, which aimed to diversify the county's economy beyond the auto industry. He was a staunch advocate for tax limitation measures and maintained a AAA bond rating for the county throughout his administration, earning national recognition from entities like the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Political positions and controversies

Patterson was a consistently conservative voice, opposing tax increases, gun control, and abortion rights. He frequently clashed with political opponents, most notably the leadership of the city of Detroit and its mayors, including Coleman Young and Kwame Kilpatrick. His 2011 remarks to *The New Yorker* describing his avoidance of Detroit and a wish to see it "walled off" generated significant controversy and accusations of racism. He was also a vocal critic of the Affordable Care Act and regional transportation proposals like the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan.

Personal life and death

Patterson was married and divorced twice, first to Kathy and later to Mary, and was the father of four children. In 2012, he was severely injured in a car accident in Auburn Hills that left him with chronic pain and requiring a wheelchair. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019. Patterson died from the disease on August 3, 2019, at his home in Independence Township. He was succeeded as County Executive by Democrat David Coulter. Flags on all Oakland County buildings were flown at half-staff in his memory.

Category:1939 births Category:2019 deaths Category:Oakland County, Michigan executives Category:Michigan Republicans Category:University of Detroit alumni Category:University of Detroit Mercy alumni