Alisha Bell unanimously re-elected as Wayne County Commission Chair
Published on January 06, 2023
Wayne County Commissioners Thursday, Jan. 5, unanimously re-elected Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) as Commission chair for the 2023-24 session.
“The three words that best describe how I feel are blessed, grateful and committed,”
Chair Bell said as she began her third two-year term as chair.
Chair Bell said a highlight of this year's session will be approving American Rescue Plan Act funding for programs to help small businesses overcome the lingering effects of the COVID19 pandemic.
Another highlight will be the work of the commission task force designed to help the county attract and retain employees.
Recounting recent commission highlights, Chair Bell noted the county is acting under its eighth consecutive balanced budget and that the county is scheduled to open its new criminal justice complex in the coming year.
She also noted that the county is aggressively moving forward on road projects as well as upgrading pump stations to ease flooding issues throughout the county.
Chair Bell also noted that, through Zoom and YouTube polices enacted during the pandemic and meetings are more accessible and transparent than ever.
Other officers unanimously re-elected during the Commission's organizational meeting were Joseph Palamara (D-Grosse Ile) as vice-chair and Sam Baydoun (D-Dearborn) as vice-chair pro tempore. Palamara is in his third term as vice-chair and Baydoun is in his second term as vice-chair pro tempore.
All were sworn in as Commission officers by Third Circuit Chief Judge Patricia Perez Fresard.
Taking office for her first Commission meeting was Commissioner Cara Clemente (DLincoln Park) the new representative for District 4.
Other commissioners sworn into office by friends and family members included:
- District 1 - Tim Killeen (D-Detroit) by Ed Keelean.
- District 2 – Jonathan Kinloch (D-Detroit) by cousin Mike Kinloch and Third Circuit Judge Prentis Edwards Jr
- District 3 – Martha G. Scott (D-Highland Park) by great-granddaughter Alasia Chavious and great-grandson Kingston Day.
- District 4 - Clemente by her children Joseph and Emma Clemente.
- District 5 – Irma Clark-Coleman (D-Detroit) by daughter Melanie Moss and son-in-law Pastor James L. Moss of Living Waters Church.
- District 6 – Monique Baker McCormick (D-Detroit) by her parents, Gloria Ross and Bruce Baker.
- District 7 – Chair Bell by her children, Kranston Young II and Morgan Young.
- District 8 – David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) by Deputy Wayne County Executive Assad Turfe.
- District 9 – Terry Marecki (R-Livonia) by daughter Jordyn Sellek.
- District 10 – Melissa Daub (D-Canton) by Anupam Chugh Sidhu.
- District 11 – Al Haidous (D-Wayne) by daughter Sarah Haidous and grandsons Norman and Danny Bazzi.
- District 12 – Glenn S. Anderson (D-Westland) by Third Circuit Judge Mark T. Slavens.
- District 13 –Vice-Chair Pro Tempore Baydoun by daughters Angela and Lily Baydoun and Third Circuit Judge Helal A. Farhat.
- District 14 – Raymond Basham (D-Brownstown Township) by 23rd District Judge Victoria Shackelford.
- District 15 – Vice-Chair Palamara by grandson Luke Westerdale.
The commission meets at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. The schedule and agendas for Commission meetings are available on the county webpage.
Video recordings of Commission meetings are live streamed via YouTube with recordings available on the Commission's webpage and channel.
Alisha Bell unanimously re-elected as Wayne County Commission Chair(PDF, 139KB)