The 2008 Bay County Executive election was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent County Executive Thomas L. Hickner ran for re-election, seeking a fifth term. He faced Mark McFarlin, the 2004 Republican nominee for County Executive, in the general election, and won renomination by a wide margin. In the general election, Hickner faced no opposition and was re-elected unopposed.
Hickner ran for re-election to a fifth term in office, emphasizing his record as County Executive in stewarding the county's finances. He was challenged by McFarlin, his 2004 Republican opponent and a frequent candidate for local office, who argued that, "after 16 years, four terms, we need new leadership." Hickner criticized McFarlin as inexperienced, noting, "The fact that I've only seen Mark in the building once, and he's never requested a copy of the budget, I'm not sure he understands the complexity of the organization."[1]
The Bay City Times endorsed Hickner, praising him for having the "background, experience, and a proven track record of fiscal leadership." The Times noted that, "[u]nder Hickner's tenure, the county time and again has enacted initiatives that set—and are still setting—the tone for state and national policy debates," including "[p]rescription drug discount cards, a Bay Health Plan for the working poor, a phosphorus lawn fertilizer ban and debate over a proposed tax to support the Health Plan."[2] Hickner ultimately defeated McFarlin in a landslide, winning 71 percent of the vote.
