By Chad Selweski
For Deadline Detroit
Entering his fifth year in office, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel has raised the profile of his county and successfully promoted Macomb as an economic force in the southeast Michigan region.
Hackel is not shy about trumpeting his administration’s accomplishments. When Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson broke his arm a few years ago he pointed to his cast and joked: “This is what happens when you get between Mark Hackel and a TV camera.”
But Macomb’s first county executive has not managed to extend his political clout to Lansing. In recent weeks the state’s third-largest county received the silent treatment when it was largely shut out of all leadership positions in the state House.
The Hackel administration is determined to change that dynamic.
Time to flex some Macomb muscles.
The plan calls for creating a bipartisan Macomb County caucus in the House that will stand together and leverage support on key issues.
The 10-person caucus would vote as a bloc to sway the outcome of legislation, giving Macomb more bang for the buck. Bills that would impact manufacturing, Lake St. Clair, roads and community college-based job training would be at the top of the priority list.
For Hackel, No. 1 on the list, at least in the short term, is a proposed $2 million state allocation to allow plans to proceed for a minor league baseball park in Utica. The county executive said more Macomb unity is needed among the county delegation rather than parochialism and infighting.
“I say, ‘Hang on. It’s not about your partisan politics, it’s about Macomb County,’” said Hackel, a Macomb Township Democrat. “I don’t want to hear about Republicans and Democrats.”
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