Coulter hires fifth deputy executive
Ward to oversee policy development
David Coulter, Oakland County executive, has appointed his fifth deputy county executive.
Beginning Feb. 4, Chris Ward, current chief of staff to the county board of commissioners, will transition into his new role, which will pay him around $160,000 in base salary annually. The position had been vacant since 2019.
Ward, 46, who has worked for the county since 2009, told MediaNews Group that he did not solicit for the position, but looks forward to his new role. He plans to assist with the transition in helping to identify a new board chief of staff, a position he has held for the past four years, having had discussions with board chair David Woodward and other several other commissioners.
“This has all happened pretty quickly and was unplanned for,” he said. “I had a call last week from the county executive’s office. We had a chance to talk about this. I guess it speaks well to the work we’ve done together during this last year plus to further Oakland County’s
strategic needs and the legislative items that have come forward to the board of commissioners in meeting the demands of the pandemic and economic recovery.”
As deputy county executive, Ward will be working with state, county, and local officials to “further the county’s strategic objectives and the Coulter Administration’s policy agenda.”
He will also oversee and manage state and federal policy development and act as a liaison with other countywide offices on executive priorities while leading strategic relations with partner organizations to advance county initiatives. Coulter said Ward has been an invaluable partner to his executive team over the past year.
“His knowledge of county government is unparalleled, and he will bring this unique strength to our executive leadership team,” he said. “Chris has wide-ranging experience at almost every level of government that will be invaluable as we move the county forward. He is wellrespected by the board and certainly knows his way around the legislative process and the state capitol, and he knows us. I’m excited to have him as part of our team.”
As part of this role, Ward said he will continue to work with the board of commissioners to continue the ongoing collaborative efforts between the board and the administration moving forward.
“The goal here is to use the experience I’ve gathered over the many years in state, county, and local offices to work on behalf of the county and identify opportunities for common ground where there are those differences so we can move forward with better services in Oakland County,” he said.
He has reached out personally to almost every county commissioner, who have all supported and encouraged him as he accepts this new position with the county.
In addition to his positions with the county, which also included deputy county clerk and register of deeds, Ward served as a state representative for the 66th district, representing the Brighton and Milford areas from 20032008. While in the House, he was majority leader in 2005-06 and minority leader in 2007. In 1992, he was elected as a Brighton Township trustee.
Since being appointed county executive in August 2019, following the passing of L. Brooks Patterson, Coulter has appointed deputy county executives, department directors, and a chief equity, diversity, and inclusion officer. In November, Coulter was elected to a full, fouryear term.