About David Coulter

David Coulter leads Michigan’s second-largest county and has served in that role since August 2019.

As Executive, Coulter has presented balanced budgets every year that have passed with bipartisan support and has maintained the county’s coveted AAA bond rating. He spearheaded a successful campaign to enact a countywide public transportation system and helped establish a Housing Trust Fund to increase the inventory of affordable housing units in the county.

He has also invested in programs to help adults get the education and training they need for successful careers and to assist small businesses in gaining access to county, state and federal resources, as well as initiatives to improve and expand physical and mental health services for all Oakland County residents.

Prior to serving as County Executive, Coulter brought a wealth of local government and executive experience to the job.

He represented Southeast Oakland County on the Board of Commissioners from 2002-2010 before being elected Mayor of Ferndale, where he served until 2019 when he was appointed Oakland County Executive. He was elected to four-year terms in 2020 and 2024.

While he was Mayor of Ferndale, Coulter served as the Director of External Relations for the Children's Foundation of Michigan, formerly the Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation. He also served as the Executive Director of the Michigan AIDS Fund which funded HIV prevention programs.

He started his career as a middle school teacher before working for Michigan Consolidated Gas Company as a Senior Public Affairs Officer.

Coulter was raised in St. Clair Shores and graduated from Bishop Gallagher High School in Harper Woods. He earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and an Executive Education Certificate from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.