Government
Oakland County Deputy Exec Sean Carlson Resigns Amid 7 Investigations to Launch State Senate Bid — What It Means for Troy
By Marcus Whitfield · July 17, 2026
With 18 days until the Aug. 4 primary, Sean Carlson has left one of Oakland County's top leadership posts while WXYZ 7 News Detroit continues pursuing seven investigations involving his spending, private business and oversight of a county contract. Carlson stepped down as Oakland County deputy county executive on April 7 to run for Michigan's 13th State Senate District seat.
Troy voters will not decide Carlson's race; the city is in the 9th Senate District, not the 13th. But they depend on the county government Carlson helped manage and have a direct stake in whether the questions surrounding his departure receive a public answer. Carlson spent 6½ years overseeing Information Technology, Economic Development and Management & Budget, with direct supervision of the Aviation Department. That department operates Oakland Troy Airport and Oakland Southwest Airport.
The scrutiny of Carlson's record is not vague. Carlson billed taxpayers $46,394.82 for travel, mileage and meals, including trips to London, Sweden, Germany, Qatar, Oman, Las Vegas and Mackinac City. He received $7,502.12 in mileage reimbursements for travel in his personal vehicle. Some of those claims covered trips from his Commerce Township home to work sites including Detroit and Wyandotte, though travel from county offices in Waterford would have cost less. Carlson also sought mileage reimbursement for meetings at his private club, the Detroit Athletic Club, despite county rules barring those charges. After reporters began asking questions, he agreed to repay about $500 in mileage. Oakland County has not publicly explained what county business justified taxpayer-funded international trips to Qatar, Oman, Sweden, Germany and London.
Carlson owns Procurement Consulting Group LLC, a private firm with multimillion-dollar contracts with Wayne County and cities including Pontiac. At the same time, he oversaw procurement and economic development for Oakland County, earning more than $230,000 a year as deputy county executive. Investigators found no public record showing that Carlson disclosed his ownership of the firm to Oakland County, despite his statement that he told County Executive Dave Coulter about the business when hired.
The sharpest test of Carlson's oversight came with a $450,000 IT staffing contract awarded to ZaydLogix, a company owned by a county employee. A Miller Canfield law firm investigation concluded the contract violated state law and county policy, though it found no intent to defraud the county. Carlson brought together procurement, legal and IT officials to cancel the contract and review other vendors for potential conflicts. Four Oakland County IT employees faced discipline after the cancellation, and all senior IT managers were required to complete conflict-of-interest and conduct training. Oakland County has declined to release the full Miller Canfield report to the public or commissioners.
Coulter has defended Carlson, saying he found no evidence that Carlson enriched himself or acted improperly and that Carlson kept his business separate from county work and did not vote on matters affecting it. "I'm so grateful for Sean's leadership and all he has done on behalf of the county's residents, small and emerging businesses, veterans and employees," Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said.
Carlson's public goodbye did not address the investigations, the international travel, his consulting business or the illegal contract that occurred under his oversight. "Today marks my last day with the Coulter Administration," former Oakland County Deputy County Executive Sean Carlson said.
For Troy, this is not simply a personnel matter in Pontiac. Oakland County owns and operates Oakland Troy Airport at 2672 Industrial Row Drive in Troy. The Oakland County Clerk's satellite office at 1151 Crooks Road handles birth, death and marriage certificates; marriage licenses; concealed pistol license applications; and business-name registration. County public-health programs and dental services are available through the South Oakland Health Center at 27725 Greenfield Road in Southfield. As deputy county executive, Carlson oversaw the county procurement division and the parts of government that decide how public money is spent, how contracts are awarded and whether the systems residents rely on are properly managed. Oakland County has multiple deputy county executives who oversee major departments and act as liaisons to the Board of Commissioners and state and federal governments.
Carlson is running for an open seat because Sen. Rosemary Bayer is retiring in 2026. The Democratic primary includes DC Anderson, Carlson and Cecil George. Republican Ryan Berman is unopposed in the Republican primary. The district is considered highly competitive, with a near-even partisan split. Sen. Rosemary Bayer has endorsed Carlson despite the unresolved investigations. The Detroit Regional Chamber identifies Carlson as a U.S. Army and Air Force veteran in its candidate profiles.
Coulter has begun remaking the leadership team Carlson left behind. Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter promoted Walt Herzig from deputy county executive to chief deputy county executive and named Megan C. Sellers deputy county executive, making her the first Black woman to hold that job.
In response to the investigations and controversy, Coulter unveiled sweeping ethics reforms, including mandatory financial disclosures for elected officials and senior staff and an independent ethics ombudsperson. New rules, however, are only as useful as their enforcement. Records for Oakland County Commission Chair Dave Woodward show taxpayer-paid mileage for multiple Detroit Athletic Club meetings with Carlson and Coulter.
The county has not disclosed whether any broader review of Carlson's procurement decisions or vendor relationships was conducted after the ZaydLogix contract was found to violate state law. The status of the seven WXYZ investigations — including whether they will produce public findings — remains unclear.
For Troy residents, the measure of the county's response will not be a new title in the executive office or a new set of ethics rules. It will be whether county leaders release the Miller Canfield report, enforce the disclosure requirements and provide a public accounting of the spending and contracts that remain unresolved. Troy residents do not vote in the 13th District primary but can press Oakland County commissioners and County Executive Coulter for that accountability.