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McCarthy, 74, was chosen to fill the vacancy left by Diana Kolakowski, who resigned from the board last month to become the economic development director in Warren. He lost the same seat to Kolakowski in the 1982 election.

McCarthy was chosen by a 15-7 vote over Becky Hooker, a former Republican aide in the state Senate and House. Four other applicants received no votes.

McCarthy has been involved with politics since the late Œ60s, serving on the commission that created Sterling Heights’ first city charter from 1966-67 and on the first City Council from 1968-72. He was then elected as a county commissioner from 1972-82, serving for eight years as board vice chairman. He also served on the county’s Building Authority since 1997, but resigned his post when he was appointed to the board.

McCarthy will represent District 8, which encompasses southwest Sterling Heights. He was appointed to fill the remaining nine months of the term, but said he is not sure if he will run for reelection.

“I was not surprised that I was appointed, because I worked hard to get it,” McCarthy said. “Diana was an excellent person, so it was not hard for me to lose to her all those years ago, and I love politics.”

McCarthy, who is active at St. Anne’s Church in Warren, said that he looks forward to serving not just his district, but the entire city and county as well.

“If someone calls me with a problem and I can honestly help, I will,” McCarthy said. “I won’t beat around the bush and I will tell the truth.”

McCarthy said he plans to focus on homelessness in the county, which he sees as a growing problem. He will also focus on budgetary concerns, on which he said the entire state is focused.

“I don’t want to raise taxes because so many people are on fixed incomes in the county,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy has been a resident of Sterling Heights since 1960 and said that it is his favorite city.

“I just love Sterling Heights, because it is clean, with a great fire department, an excellent police department and a good place for me to raise my six kids,” McCarthy said.