Wayne County Commissioner Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) was unanimously re-elected as commission chair on Thursday during the board organizational meeting for its 2021-22 legislative session.
Commissioner Joseph Palamara (D-Grosse Ile Township) was unanimously re-elected commission vice chair while Sam Baydoun (D-Dearborn) was elected vice chair pro tempore, replacing the late Jewel Ware who held that position during the previous session.
Commissioners were also administered the oath of office during the meeting by Chief Wayne County Circuit Judge Timothy Kenny.
Bell represents District 7, which includes the west side of Detroit.
Bell pledged to continue efforts to increase commission transparency, including making commission and committee meetings available on YouTube and the county website.
“We have had an interesting year as so many things have happened in our county and in our country,” Bell said. “We will continue to do great things for the people of Wayne County as it continues to be one that other county’s model from.”
Palamara represents District 15, which consists of Riverview, Southgate, Trenton, Wyandotte, Ecorse, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile Township and River Rouge.
Baydoun represents the 13th District, which consists of Dearborn and Allen Park.
The chair directs commission meetings and prepares the agenda. The vice chair performs those duties in the chair’s absence, with the vice chair pro tempore filling duties in the absence of the chair and vice chair.