Oakland GOP announces new county executive candidate ahead of deadline

Oakland County Republicans have announced their new candidate for county executive just days ahead of a petition deadline for the election and months after former contender Mary Patterson dropped out of the race.

Oakland County GOP leaders selected Nikola "Nik" Gjonaj as the candidate to seek the county executive post in a race against incumbent Dave Coulter, Vance Patrick, chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party, said Friday.

"We are excited to have a candidate like Nik join our county-wide ticket," said Patrick, according to statement emailed to The Detroit News. "As a member of the Albanian community, Nik will provide a needed perspective that will lead Oakland County back to economic prominence."

Gjonaj's selection comes after Patterson, daughter of the late former Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, quietly announced her departure from the race on social media Feb. 9. Mary Patterson filed to run for county executive last summer, seeking to fill the role her father held for almost three decades until his death in August 2019. 

Coulter's campaign couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Patrick last week said while he was "disappointed that Mary decided to withdraw her name," the party was "excited to have a strong slate of countywide candidates that will be formally announced."

"Since April of 2023, we have been building a diverse volunteer network all throughout Oakland County. Volunteers are eager to promote our message from Royal Oak to Waterford and South Lyon to Madison Heights," Patrick said Friday.

Gjonaj wasn't available for an interview, but his campaign provided information about his background. A 49-year-old resident of Clarkston, Gjonaj is an entrepreneur who helped create an IPTV streaming service in Eastern Europe, according to his campaign. He also has been a restauranteur.

Gjonaj currently is a commercial insurance executive and the steward of St. Paul Albanian Catholic Church, a 3000-family parish in Rochester Hills. He hasn't held prior political positions.

Gjonaj is running for county executive because Oakland County "deserves a county executive that actually cares about creating a business friendly environment that people can be proud to raise their family in," his campaign said. The campaign also noted that he can use his experience in multiple sectors to provide a multi-faceted plan to return the county to being "the economic powerhouse of Michigan."

Patrick, the county GOP chairman, thanked the Albanian community for its "astounding" support for the party since Gjonaj's announcement.

"They show us now, more than ever, the importance of communities coming together over common values, of focusing on what brings us together rather than what separates us," he said.

Democratic and Republican Party candidates for county executive were given a deadline to file partisan nominating petitions by 4 p.m. April 23, according to the Oakland County Clerk's Office.

jaimery@detroitnews.com