Woodward, a Royal Oak Democrat who submitted his resignation letter in August as chairman and commissioner to pursue the executive appointment, formed a political committee in April to seek the post. Woodward, who was first elected to the commission in 2004, ultimately rescinded his resignation.

Woodward's campaign committee reported $5,000 raised and $14,874 spent during the reporting period for an ending balance of $1,826.

Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner, who was elected in 2008, also formed a political committee in January. He reported $214,746 raised and $63,006 spent, which leaves his war chest with $420,898 on hand.

An email sent Thursday night by Mort Meisner, a spokesman for Andy Meisner, called Coulter a "loser for state Senate" and "a favorite of politicians."

In an interview, Andy Meisner said Thursday: "I respect Dave, but I also can't help but wonder if it wouldn't be better for the county if he just focus on the job he was given and allow us to get past this whole chapter that led to his appointment with Mr. Patterson passing away."

Coulter endorsed Meisner on June 20, about a month and a half before Patterson died and two months before he was appointed to the executive position.

"I think Dave got it right when he endorsed me," Meisner said, adding that Coulter visited his office Wednesday to tell him that he would announce his candidacy for a full term in 2020.

Frank Houston, a former Oakland County Democratic Party chairman, said Thursday that Democrats should coalesce around Coulter's campaign.

"You have a Democratic incumbent who is doing a good job as county executive and you would be hard-pressed to make a case why anyone should replace him," Houston said. "I would encourage folks like Treasurer Meisner and Chairman Woodward who looked at the office to have a good conversation with the executive about his future vision and see if there is common ground, or if there is so much daylight between their visions that it justifies running. I'm not suggesting they pull out, but a lot of Democrats will rally around Coulter very quick, and they should."

Oakland County, long a bastion of Republican politics, has swayed politically in the last 10-plus years. Democrats have been making inroads, capturing four of the six countywide positions and now, with Coulter, adding a fifth. Sheriff Mike Bouchard is the lone Republican in a countywide elected post.

Coulter is a Michigan State University graduate and earned an Executive Education Certificate from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.