Rochester Area Republican Club
MEETING NOTICE
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 17, 2011
7:00 – 9:00 PM
ROCHESTER AMERICAN LEGION HALL
234 WALNUT ST.
S.E. Corner of 3rd Street and Walnut Blvd.
Please use 3rd Street entrance
GUEST SPEAKER
L. BROOKS PATTERSON
OAKLAND COUNTY EXECUTIVE
L. Brooks Patterson is serving 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 America’s most affluent and progressive counties, Mr. Patterson presides over a nearly $780 million recommended annual budget for FY2011 and a county workforce of nearly 4,000 full and part time benefit eligible employees.
During the 18 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 three dozen of the nation’s 3,200 counties have received.
Innovative programs Mr. Patterson has launched include:
Three Year Budget
Oakland County is the first county in the nation to adopt a balanced three-year, rolling, line-item budget. Wall Street often cites the three-year budget as among the reasons it awards Oakland County a AAA bond rating.
Mandarin Chinese
Mr. Patterson, noting the challenges presented by China’s emergence as a world economic
power, called for Oakland County to be the first county in America to teach Mandarin Chinese
in just about every public school district. Educators responded and today the Mandarin
Chinese language, history and culture are being taught in school districts throughout Oakland County.
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 County’s public, private and charter schools. All money is raised through private donations; no taxpayer’s funds are involved.
Successful Health Care Cost Containment Initiative
Under Mr. Patterson’s leadership, Oakland County is the first county in America to have fully funded employee and retiree health care while saving taxpayers over $150 million.
OakFit
Oakland County’s Wellness Program, OakFit, is “bending the trend” on health care costs. The county currently pays $38 million for its employee health care. Without OakFit, among other cost containment initiatives, the county would be paying $50 million today. OakFit, which has been featured on Fox News and USA Today, includes health screenings for early detection of chronic health issues and lunchtime healthy lifestyle activities for employees.
Medical Main Street
New initiative designed to make Oakland County a “medical tourism” destination by attracting patients, investment, medical supplies and clinical research from around the world.
Economic Growth Alliance
A collaboration between Oakland, Genesee, Livingston and St. Clair Counties on joint opportunities for economic growth, diversification and legislation that may impact the four counties.
Technology
Oakland County named #1 in the Digital Counties Survey of Counties over 500,000 in population by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties (NACo).
Automation Alley, southeast Michigan’s premier high-tech consortium which Mr. Patterson founded in 1998, now boasts a membership roster of more than 1,000 companies. Automation Alley has received recognition from two presidents. President George W. Bush bestowed the President’s “E” Award for excellence in exporting, and President Barack Obama invited Automation Alley to take part in a White House jobs summit.
Mr. Patterson’s Employee Suggestion Program has generated more than $5 million worth of taxpayer savings since 1993 while his Casual Day Program has distributed nearly half a million dollars to local charities over the past 16 years. (Neither involves taxpayer funds.)
Mr. Patterson founded Arts, Beats & Eats in 1998. The four-day family-oriented fun-fest in downtown Royal Oak features great food, wonderful music and extraordinary art. The event ranks as one of the top ten Art Fairs in America.
Mr. Patterson established the Brooksie Way Half Marathon and 5K Race which has attracted some 5,000 participants in its third year on October 3, 2010 at Oakland University in Rochester. The race is named in honor of his son, Brooks Stuart Patterson, who was killed in a snowmobiling accident.
In the 1980’s Mr. Patterson established The Rainbow Connection which grants wishes to terminally ill children. Mr. Patterson serves as president of the organization.
Mr. Patterson has earned numerous awards and honors including:
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
Bloomfield Hills Rotary Foundation 2007 Distinguished Community Leader Award
Two Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters: one from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant (2009) and another from Kettering University in Flint (2006)
Lighthouse Humanitarian Award (2004)
Corp! Magazine Man of the Decade (2000)
Arts, Beats & Eats Foundation Quality of Life Award (2003)
Automation Alley CEO Legend of the Year (2003)
2005 Visionary Award from the Michigan Department of Information Technology for leadership support of technology initiatives
Champion for Children Award from Region 9 (Oakland, Wayne and Macomb Counties) of the Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA)
Named “World Trader of the Year” in 2005 by the Detroit Regional Chamber for his significant contributions to promote international trade in southeast Michiga
About Tom and Ann Gendich