Gwen Markham was raised in Pontiac, MI, the daughter of Oakland County’s first Executive, Daniel T. Murphy. She learned public service at an early age, following the example of her mother, father, and grandmother. A Girl Scout as a youth, she has carried public service
forward all of her life. She has chosen the Democratic party for herself because her values of fairness, women’s rights, voting rights, gun safety, and opportunity for all, are Democratic values she is proud to fight for.

She also had a distinguished career in manufacturing and engineering management, beginning at Oldsmobile in Lansing before moving out west to work for Hughes Aircraft Company in the aerospace industry. After several more years at Delco Electronics in Wisconsin, she and her family returned to Oakland County where she semi-retired and began her volunteer career in earnest.

Gwen served on the City of Novi Planning Commission two terms from 1997-2005. She was elected to Novi City Council in 2013, and served 5 years.  In 2018 she was elected to her current position as Commissioner.

Current Assignments:

• Board of Commissioners
• Finance Committee – Chair
• Economic Growth and Infrastructure Committee
• Coordinated Zoning Committee – Chair
• Claims Review – Chair
• Airport Committee – Chair
• Drain Board
• Retirement and VEBA Board
• Regional Tri-County (Oakland, Macomb, Wayne) Summit Broadband Committee – Chair
• Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) – Executive Vice Chair
• Oakland County Pioneer and Historical Society Board member