Dear Editor,

First of all, my deepest sympathy goes out to the entire Patterson family and to the residents of Oakland County for whom L. Brooks Patterson, for decades, worked so hard to serve.
Brooks was a brilliant politician and leader and we, in Oakland County, were the fortunate ones Brooks blessed with his wisdom and caring for our residents for all those dedicated years.
Secondly, to Mary, Brooks would have been very proud of you for your eloquent and classy response to Andy Meisner’s attack on your father. How pitiful Andy could, or would, stoop so low.
I’ve been a resident of Oakland County and have observed the genius way Brooks worked for many years, admiring how he handled tough situations and led discussions and disagreements to a win-win for all involved. He always did the right thing and wasn’t afraid to stand up to ANYONE to defend the great citizens of Oakland County.
At no time did I ever even witness or hear anything that would identify Brooks as any of those hateful things Andy so flippantly threw out there. Andy NEVER would have said those things to Brooks, as he “claimed” to have done. He could only cowardly state those things AFTER Brooks had passed.
Andy is trying to please somebody who he thinks will consider him a hero and vote for him. It’s so sad this is the path he has chosen to try to get attention.
I’ve attended several commissioners’ meetings since Brooks’ death where the citizens who attended these meetings would be discounted and mocked for their concerns. Andy, Bob Woodward, and Dave Coulter were also in attendance and had no control over their commissioners or their actions.
This isn’t about the citizens of Oakland County. This is about Andy and his gang trying to run the county now. Their plan is to do whatever necessary to destroy this county, Brooks’ legacy, and our AAA bond rating Brooks worked so hard to achieve. It would have saved our residents billions of dollars.
As a leader, Brooks had a long-term vision many of us could not see or even comprehend when it was in its infancy, yet we have all benefitted in the results. It’s not about whose side you are on…but rather truthfulness and not lies.
Thank you for allowing me to present my thoughts on this despicable blasphemy from Andy Meisner. Again, my deepest sympathy to the Patterson family for this childish, unwarranted and unfounded rant.

Sincerely,
Barbara Martin
Rochester Hills