Shelley Taub

Retired Michigan State Representative and Oakland County Commissioner
​
Shelley Taub’s career in public service began, she says, “on a dare.” In 1992, due to redistricting, her Oakland County commissioner seat had no incumbent. She mentioned the fact to her husband. “And he said four fatal words,” Taub recalls. “‘Why don’t you run?’”

A former teacher who managed her husband’s medical business, Taub was essentially a political no-name. But she hit the pavement and won her Republican primary by 239 votes. Since then, Taub hasn’t stopped moving. She created the human services coordinating council, a countywide work group that led to better cross-agency cooperation on social services. She was also instrumental in creating Michigan’s first-ever children’s summit, which focused on early childhood health and brain development. Shelley also got tired of hearing about untested rape kits sitting for years in Lansing and decided to do something about it. She wrote the resolution in Oakland County which both established and funded the Oakland County DNA lab. With her pushing and prodding as well as support from Sheriff Michael Bouchard, this service is now available free of charge to all Police Departments in Oakland County.

Taub intended to retire from politics in 2007 after a failed state senate bid, but her passion for public service drew her back and she was re-elected to the county commission the following year. Shelley served on the Oakland County Commission through 2020 when she decided that it was time to retire. 

Committees Chairs:
BIrmingham Youth Assistance
Children’s Summit
Substance Use Disorder Oversight Policy Board
General Government
Public Services
General Government Appropriations
Transportation Appropriations
Senior Summit
RX Task Force
Jail Diversion Task Force
Human Trafficking Network
National Association of Counties (NACO) Arts and Culture Commission

Founding member:
Women Official’s Network
Oakland County Human Trafficking Network
Cranbrook,” Le Gala de Cuisine “
Jail Diversion Task Force

Honors:
Governing Magazine’s “ Women in Government “ Leadership Award: 2016
Oakland County Health Network (Mental Health & Substance Use ): 
“Distinguished OPB Member” 2020
Americans for the Arts & NACO: County Arts Leadership, 2020
“The Senior Show,” a cable television program
“Their Life is in Our Hands,” a booklet in English and Spanish for new mothers about brain development in an infant.