Hon. Edward A. Boike, Jr.
Board Member, Detroit RiverFront Conservancy
Edward A. Boike, Jr., born on August 3, 1943, graduated from Fordson High School in 1961 and continued his academic pursuits by taking specialized courses at Wayne State University and Wayne County Community College.
A resident of Taylor, Chairman Boike was first elected to the Wayne County Commission in 1988, where he has continued to demonstrate leadership and dedication. He represents the 15th District of Wayne County, which encompasses the cities of Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Rockwood, Romulus, Taylor, and the charter townships of Brownstown and Huron.
In January 2009, his colleagues on the commission elected him chairman of the legislative body. As chair, he provides fiscal and legislative oversight of Wayne County's $2.25 billion annual budget. He is responsible for committee assignments and appointments to boards and commissions. Chairman Boike also oversees the commission's 60 employees and $11.3 million budget.
Prior to his election to Chair by his Commission colleagues, he served as Vice Chair of the Commission. He also chaired the Committee on Environment, Drains and Sewers and vice-chaired the Committee on Public Services. Chairman Boike is a member of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, the Wayne County Employee Retirement System, the Wayne County Drainage Board, the Wayne County Solid Waste Planning Committee, the Wetlands Preservation Fund Executive Committee, and the Food Service and Sanitation Board. He was also appointed by his peers to sit on the board of the Wayne County Airport Authority, which he served on from 2003-2006.
A lifelong resident of the Downriver area, Chairman Boike is married to Joyce, who has been a Taylor resident all of her life. The couple celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary on September 5, 2008. The Boikes have three children: a daughter, Beth, and two sons, Mark and Todd. They also have six lovely grandchildren: Joshua, Alison, Samantha, Colin, Blake and Carson.
Chairman Edward Boike served on the Taylor City Council from 1977 to 1982. He was Council Chair from 1977-79 and 1981-82. In 1982, Chairman Boike was appointed Director of the Alfred Sheridan Community Center within Taylor's Recreation Department. He took an early retirement in August 1991 to devote himself fulltime to his duties as Wayne County Commissioner.
Chairman Boike is serving his 11th term representing the 15th District. Before Wayne County underwent redistricting in 2002, District 15 included Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Rockwood, Taylor, Trenton, Woodhaven, and Brownstown Township.