Oakland County is hardly a sure thing for Republicans anymore, but L. Brooks Patterson says he isn't sweating what some say is the most credible challenge in years to his 16-year reign as county executive.
"I'm not personally concerned," he said. "To me it's a matter of margin."
Others say the Republican stalwart may have reason to worry. He's squaring off Nov. 4 against Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, who is widely popular in the Democratic Party and mounting an increasingly aggressive campaign against Patterson.
"In recent memory, she kind of has the best chance," said John S. Klemanski, political science professor at Oakland University.
Patterson has been a fixture in Oakland County politics for four decades and typically rolls to re-election. He served 16 years as prosecutor before becoming executive and Klemanski said his name-recognition is so high that Lawrence faces an "uphill battle." No polls have been released in the race since July, when Patterson had a wide lead.
The election comes as the state's richest county struggles with record foreclosures, falling home values and rising unemployment. Those are reasons why the second-term mayor is sharpening her campaign rhetoric against Patterson, claiming he's out of touch.
"Patterson's county is selective to where he feels the most powerful, the most wealthiest, and those who represent Wall Street reside," said Lawrence, 53. "His focus is more on Wall Street versus the small business development and the infrastructure of our cities."
In 2001, Lawrence unseated a similarly entrenched Southfield mayor, Donald Fracassi, who served for 29 years, promising to replace a politician who has lost touch with a changing city.
Laura Walker, Lawrence's mayoral campaign manager, said the "charismatic" mayor's strength is her ability to connect with people and the issues are that are important to them.
"People end up feeling that, 'she's just like me,'" Walker said. "She really listens to voters about what's being done well, what needs to change moving forward, and develops clear vision that reaches across the aisle to get things done. Brenda represented change then and she does now."
Her populist message promising to pull small businesses and take up the fight to establish a mass transportation system in the region has found appeal, especially with voters under 35, women and minorities, according to polling conducted last winter by her campaign. Though the poll also gauged her favorability compared to Patterson's, the campaign is not releasing the results, saying the information is dated.
But polling conducted by Patterson's campaign in July showed he had a significant lead -- 56 percent to 24 percent -- but no polling has been done since.
"You can't take anything for granted," said Trent Wisecup, campaign manager for Patterson. "You could have a situation where there's a strong surge of Democratic voters because of the national election. You just don't know."
According to polling results released last week, the party identification among the 400 likely voters polled in the county was even: 42 percent Democrat and 42 percent Republican. That's quite a change compared to four years ago, when the split was 46 to 39 percent, in Republicans' favor, said Steve Mitchell of Mitchell Research & Communications.
Patterson, 69, isn't leaving much to chance.
His spiral-bound planner in recent weeks has been packed with speaking engagements, luncheons and fundraisers. And at many public appearances, he reminds audiences of his track record in office, often trumpeting strides in economic development despite the 8,000 home foreclosures last year and the highest unemployment rate in the county -- 6.2 percent -- since 1992.
He points to programs he founded, like Emerging Sectors, an aggressive strategy to lure companies in flourishing sectors like medical equipment to relocate to or expand in the county; or Troy-based Automation Alley, an association that helps Southeastern Michigan technology firms find opportunities in the state and abroad.
Patterson is dismissive of Lawrence's charges that he neglects the southern half of the county as well as the need for a mass transportation system, pointing to examples of his programs that reach all corners of the county.
"I chock it up to candidate that has 27 days to go and is starting to panic," Patterson said.
"I'm not personally concerned," he said. "To me it's a matter of margin."
Others say the Republican stalwart may have reason to worry. He's squaring off Nov. 4 against Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, who is widely popular in the Democratic Party and mounting an increasingly aggressive campaign against Patterson.
"In recent memory, she kind of has the best chance," said John S. Klemanski, political science professor at Oakland University.
Patterson has been a fixture in Oakland County politics for four decades and typically rolls to re-election. He served 16 years as prosecutor before becoming executive and Klemanski said his name-recognition is so high that Lawrence faces an "uphill battle." No polls have been released in the race since July, when Patterson had a wide lead.
The election comes as the state's richest county struggles with record foreclosures, falling home values and rising unemployment. Those are reasons why the second-term mayor is sharpening her campaign rhetoric against Patterson, claiming he's out of touch.
"Patterson's county is selective to where he feels the most powerful, the most wealthiest, and those who represent Wall Street reside," said Lawrence, 53. "His focus is more on Wall Street versus the small business development and the infrastructure of our cities."
In 2001, Lawrence unseated a similarly entrenched Southfield mayor, Donald Fracassi, who served for 29 years, promising to replace a politician who has lost touch with a changing city.
Laura Walker, Lawrence's mayoral campaign manager, said the "charismatic" mayor's strength is her ability to connect with people and the issues are that are important to them.
"People end up feeling that, 'she's just like me,'" Walker said. "She really listens to voters about what's being done well, what needs to change moving forward, and develops clear vision that reaches across the aisle to get things done. Brenda represented change then and she does now."
Her populist message promising to pull small businesses and take up the fight to establish a mass transportation system in the region has found appeal, especially with voters under 35, women and minorities, according to polling conducted last winter by her campaign. Though the poll also gauged her favorability compared to Patterson's, the campaign is not releasing the results, saying the information is dated.
But polling conducted by Patterson's campaign in July showed he had a significant lead -- 56 percent to 24 percent -- but no polling has been done since.
"You can't take anything for granted," said Trent Wisecup, campaign manager for Patterson. "You could have a situation where there's a strong surge of Democratic voters because of the national election. You just don't know."
According to polling results released last week, the party identification among the 400 likely voters polled in the county was even: 42 percent Democrat and 42 percent Republican. That's quite a change compared to four years ago, when the split was 46 to 39 percent, in Republicans' favor, said Steve Mitchell of Mitchell Research & Communications.
Patterson, 69, isn't leaving much to chance.
His spiral-bound planner in recent weeks has been packed with speaking engagements, luncheons and fundraisers. And at many public appearances, he reminds audiences of his track record in office, often trumpeting strides in economic development despite the 8,000 home foreclosures last year and the highest unemployment rate in the county -- 6.2 percent -- since 1992.
He points to programs he founded, like Emerging Sectors, an aggressive strategy to lure companies in flourishing sectors like medical equipment to relocate to or expand in the county; or Troy-based Automation Alley, an association that helps Southeastern Michigan technology firms find opportunities in the state and abroad.
Patterson is dismissive of Lawrence's charges that he neglects the southern half of the county as well as the need for a mass transportation system, pointing to examples of his programs that reach all corners of the county.
"I chock it up to candidate that has 27 days to go and is starting to panic," Patterson said.
References:
http://www.brendalawrence.com/?q=node/112
http://www.brendalawrence.com/?q=node/112
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