Official: Is Hackel about to walk in Kwame Kilpatrick's footsteps?

At this morning's Macomb County Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Fred Miller deviated substantially from past practice by starting the Finance Committee meeting with a lengthy commentary that came close to comparing County Executive Mark Hackel to imprisoned former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
As the Finance Committee chair, Miller added a first item to the agenda labeled "Chairman's Comments." The Mount Clemens Democrat noted that Hackel has scheduled a press conference for Thursday morning to announce the creation of a nonprofit foundation, similar to those in neighboring counties, to help strengthen Macomb County communities.

Miller's first thought: Will this new entity operate in a similar way to the Kilpatrick Civic Fund, which allegedly became a $2.5 million slush for the mayor over a 5-year period?
His second thought: Will it imitate the NERD fund established by Gov. Rick Snyder that has recently faced heavy criticism for operating in the shadows, plotting strategy on key political issues?

In both cases, said Miller, a former state representative, the controversial foundation groups are 501(c)4 nonprofit organizations that shun transparency.
"I just want to put this out there," Miller told his committee "It's a very, very slippery slope when you allow these kinds of things. We all know the corrupting influence that money can have on politics."

Though Miller has periodically tussled with Hackel, a fellow Democrat, the commentary stunned Commissioner Jim Carabelli, a Shelby Township Republican. The veiled references and the use of a committee chairman's post as a soap box were inappropriate, Carabelli said.
"I'm befuddled," he added. "I'm ... not warm and fuzzy about it."
Miller responded, "Your befuddlement and lack of warmth and fuzziness is duly noted."
Many in the audience chuckled.

UPDATE: To find out what the press conference was really all about, click here.