Brabec Wins District 7 County Board Seat

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In the May 8 election against Republican Richard Conn, Democrat incumbent Felicia Brabec won the Washtenaw County board of commissioners seat for District 7, to represent Pittsfield Township on the 11-member county board. Brabec received 934 votes (60.1%) compared to 610 votes (39.25%) for Conn. There were 10 write-in votes. Of the 10 precincts in Pittsfield Township, Brabec received a majority of votes in all but one – precinct 8.

This was the only election for the county board, for a term that will run through the end of 2012. (County commissioners typically serve two-year terms.) The unusual timing of the race stems from the October 2011 resignation of former District 7 commissioner Kristin Judge. The board appointed Brabec to replace Judge at its Oct. 19, 2011 meeting. Brabec had been encouraged by Judge to apply for the vacancy, and was one of two people interviewed for the position. [See Chronicle coverage: "County Board Meets District 7 Candidates"]

Redistricting of the county board, which takes effect in 2013, will reduce the number of districts in the county from 11 to 9. Candidates for the new districts will compete in an Aug. 7 primary and November general election. The district currently represented by Brabec will become the new District 4. [map of new county board districts] Brabec has indicated that she’ll run again in the August primary.

Since joining the county board, Brabec has been appointed to several committees, including the Eastern Leaders Group leadership committee, the community corrections board, and the Washtenaw Community Health Organization board. She has a doctorate in social work and a private practice. She and her husband David have two young children.