PONTIAC — Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter was appointed as the new Oakland County executive on Friday after weeks of intense political controversy, winning in an 11-10 vote.

Coulter, a Democrat, must resign his post as mayor of Ferndale before taking the position, which was vacant due to the passing of longtime Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, a Republican. Patterson died on August 3 due to complications from pancreatic cancer and Republican Gerald Poisson, Patterson’s deputy, was named acting county executive less than a day later.

The position of county executive pays $197,248 per year, Crain’s Detroit Business reported.

Other finalists included Kevin Howley (D-Huntington Woods); Randy Hazel (I-Lake Orion); Timothy Gossman (I-Clarkston) and Julie Secontine (D-Milford).

Commissioner David Woodward (D-Royal Oak), withdrew his application just one week after submitting it. His potential appointment to the post was cancelled by acting Board Chairperson Marcia Gershenson, who is also a Democrat.

Woodward, who had been board chair, had resigned in order to clear the way for his potential appointment as county executive. He subsequently decided to rescind his resignation, allowing him to return to the board and giving Democrats an 11-10 advantage in Friday’s vote. His decision to rescind his resignation was fought in court by members of the local GOP, but he was allowed to return to his post, and ultimately ended up announcing Coulter’s victory on Friday.

Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner (D-Huntington Woods), spoke out against the process, and decided not to apply for the position, questioning the integrity of the process.

Many people walked out of the room as Coulter was elected. He grabbed the microphone and said, “We need to work together.”

Earlier this week, Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner (D-Huntington Woods), spoke out against the process, and decided not to apply for the job, questioning the integrity of the process in a press release on Tuesday.

“Because I do not have faith in the integrity of this process, I will not submit my name to be appointed to fill the remainder of Brooks Patterson’s term,” he said.

A vote was cancelled last Thursday as Republicans and Democrats jockeyed for position.

“I raised some concerns about the commission getting ready to make the appointment just a few days after Mr. Patterson’s death, without posting the appointment and without any sort of open and transparent process,” Meisner told The Arab American News on Wednesday.

He added that a text was sent a few days ago urging county commission colleagues and candidates to “delete, delete, delete” any information about the appointment.

Oakland County Commissioner Shelley Goodman Taub (R-Bloomfield Township) sent the text messages.

“The appointment and the commission has really botched the way that they handled the appointment; it has raised a lot of concerns,” Meisner said.

The field of applicants was narrowed down by a candidate evaluation committee of two Democrats and a Republican.

Meisner also called for Taub’s resignation, which drew a response from the Oakland County Republican Caucus via a press release on Wednesday.

“Andy’s call for Commissioner Taub’s resignation is nothing more than Andy bringing Wayne County politics to Oakland County,” said Commissioner Michael J. Gingell (R-Lake Orion), chairman of the Republican caucus.