Area youth to learn about county government

On Thursday, April 12, beginning at 8:30 a.m., the Oakland County Board of Commissioners will welcome more than one hundred students to participate in the annual Youth in Government Day program. The program will kick-off in the Board of Commissioners' Auditorium, located at 1200 North Telegraph Road. More than one hundred high school youth commissioners will stake their claim in county government in recognition of April as being designated as National County Government Month. Commissioners will welcome students from Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Ferndale, Lake Orion, Milford, Pontiac, White Lake, Waterford, and West Bloomfield. Students will learn about county government, meet elected officials, attend the Oakland County Board of Commissioners' Finance meeting and learn about leadership development programs. This year, a panel of countywide leaders consisting of Board Chairman Michael J. Gingell, Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner, Oakland County Clerk Bill Bullard Jr., Oakland County Board of Commissioners Democratic Co-Chair Marcia Gershenson, and Oakland County Board of Commissioners Republican Co-Chair Shelley Goodman Taub will share insights with students. The panel will be facilitated by Oakland County Corporation Counsel's Judy Cunningham. Students will learn about the Oakland County Sheriff's Canine Unit, meet Sheriff Bouchard and also learn about the judicial branch of the county. Students will meet Oakland County Circuit Court Chief Judge Nanci J. Grant and Judge Lisa Gorcyca. They will tour these judges' courtrooms as part of the day's activities. Students will have an opportunity to express their opinion about political and county issues. Students will have lunch with Commissioners David Woodward, Craig Covey, Board Chairman Michael J. Gingell, Vice Chairman Jeff Matis, Shelley Goodman Taub, Christine Long, Bob Hoffman, Jim Runestad, John A. Scott, Jim Nash, Bill Dwyer, Mattie McKinney Hatchett, Marcia Gershenson, David W. Potts, Angela River, Thomas F. Middleton, and Philip Weipert. Other commissioners scheduled to participate include the Finance Committee Chaired by Commissioner Thomas F. Middleton, which consists of Commissioners Nancy Quarles, Helaine Zack, Shelley Goodman Taub, David Woodward, Christine A. Long, Jim Runestad, David W. Potts, and Bill Dwyer. Published: Thu, Apr 5, 2012