OCRP Voters Guide 2016 | Página 7

COUNTY ELECTION CANDIDATE Office: OAKLAND COUNTY EXECUTIVE Candidate: L. BROOKS PATTERSON www.lbrookspatterson.com www.linkedin.com/in/lbrookspatterson www.facebook.com/LBrooksPatterson twitter.com/brookspatterson L. Brooks Patterson is transforming Oakland County with his vision and no-nonsense leadership. His mission is to make Oakland County one of the best places to live, work, play and raise a family. Oakland County is attracting 21st Century jobs because of Brooks' innovative initiatives in the knowledge-based economy. Emerging Sectors, Medical Main Street, Tech 248, and Automation Alley are among his economic diversification programs that cumulatively have attracted nearly $8 billion in private investment, helping the county to reach what economists call full employment. Why do bond ratings analysts refer to Oakland County as the best managed county in the country? Because of Brook's three-year budget with a five-year outlook which currently is balanced through 2021. During the 24 years of his administration, Brooks has consistently lowered taxes, Support now the latest in 2015. Oakland County taxpayers now have one of the lowest county operational taxes in Michigan. Under Brooks' leadership, Oakland County is the only county in America to have fully funded its employee retirement benefits while transitioning the county to a 401(k)-style retirement, saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. The result is that Oakland County has the highest credit rating possible, maintaining a AAA bond rating since 1998. That's a credit rating higher than the U.S. government. Oakland County residents enjoy a quality of life that is second to none thanks to Brooks. He was the first in America to launch a countywide Main Street program. Main Street Oakland County has helped many of the county's 32 downtown areas become premiere shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations while keeping an eye on historic preservation. He believes that quality of life is tied to active and healthy lifestyles which is why he has created multiple family-friendly events such as The Brooksie Way; Brooksie Way Minigrants; Arts, Beats, & Eats; the Rochester Fire & Ice Festival; the Oakland Edge adult hockey tournament, and more.