Paul Gieleghem Commissioner, District 19 Chairman, Macomb County Board of Commissioners

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Paul Gieleghem was re-elected in November 2008 to represent the residents of District 19 in central Clinton Township. The 2009-2010 term is his third on the County Board. In January 2009, board members elected Gieleghem to a two-year term as chairman.

As chairman and as a member of the Board of Commissioners, Gieleghem (GIL-a-hem) is an outspoken advocate for Macomb County and focuses on helping the county compete in an increasingly competitive economy. He supports the creation of the county executive form of government for Macomb, reducing the number of commissioners, making structural changes in the budget to reflect current economic realities, expanding economic development efforts and advocating for state investment in higher education in the county. 

Before his election to the County Board, Gieleghem, 39, served three two-year terms in the Michigan House as the representative for residents of Clinton Township, Mount Clemens and Fraser, serving through 2004. Gieleghem previously served as a legislative aide to state Sen. Ken DeBeaussaert, and handled constituent services for former Congressman David Bonior.

He is a member of the Macomb Chamber of Commerce, the Macomb County Inter-Agency Council, the Selfridge Base Community Council, the Clinton River Watershed Council, the Belgian-American Association, the Interfaith Center for Racial Justice and the Wayne State University Alumni Association.

Gieleghem has a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Wayne State University, an associate’s degree in General Business from Macomb Community College and is a graduate of Clintondale High School.

Gieleghem was named “Environmentalist of the Year 2004” by the Sierra Club for his stewardship of the land, air and water, and was recognized by the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of Michigan for his legislation requiring emergency response personnel to deliver life-saving medication for severely allergic patients. The Michigan Society for Clinical Laboratory Science presented him with its “Presidential Recognition Award” and he was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Superintendents in 2002.

Gieleghem is a lifelong resident of Clinton Township. He and his wife Sara have two children.

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