OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (WXYZ) — Oakland County leaders are rushing toward a deadline for applicants who want to take on the county’s executive role.
Our investigative team uncovered a push to delete emails and now there's a call for at least one commissioner to resign.
Right now, there is an interim executive. The county board is trying to pick the more permanent replacement — and folks are hoping for a more transparent process while also calling for Commissioner Shelley Taub to step down.
If you’re following along, she’s the one who sent that text telling fellow commissioners that a FOIA request was coming and to “delete, delete, delete” emails.
That was a response to 7 Action News requesting public records following the death of L. Brooks Patterson. Taub claims she was sending that message so nothing “nasty” came out — but one group making it clear: they want her out.
Progress Michigan wrote in a statement:
“Commissioner taub needs to resign because she’s admitted, on camera, to trying to hide public documents from the people of oakland county, who deserve real accountability from their elected officials...”
“I’d like an appropriate law enorcement group to look at it… I mean, she stated, her intent was to hide this information," said Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner.
Meisner is one of the prominent names that wants the job.
Another hopeful Dave Woodward was among those found to be using a private email account to conduct county business. He’s told 7 Action News if put into place he’d start using the county email system.
Of course — Woodward was a commissioner until he stepped down… presumably to make him a candidate since he couldn’t hold his old job while being considered.
When the speed of those moves were questioned, the meeting to name a replacement was postponed leading to a call for applications.
It’s been less than a week — and today is the deadline. We’re told the interviews begin tomorrow.
