Donna Clancy was once known among her neighbors as The Detroit Lady.
Everyday, she’d settle in behind the steering wheel for a long commute between her home in Springfield Township and her job in downtown Detroit.
‘When people asked why I drove all that way, the answer was simple,? she said. ‘I just told them ‘I live in paradise.??
It’s her desire to preserve, protect and serve that paradise, Clancy said, that motivated her to run for Springfield Township clerk in the November election.
But her decision didn’t come easily. Clancy currently serves as the executive director of fundraising for SCAMP, a nonprofit summer day camp for children and young adults with special needs.
Since 2002, Clancy has taken her role with the organization to heart, and been an outspoken advocate for SCAMP and its benefits to the community. In 2007, she was named Citizen of the Year at the annual Clarkston-area Chamber of Commerce Michigan Week Community Awards Breakfast.
But when Clancy heard current Springfield Township Clerk Nancy Strole was planning to retire, she attended a workshop, took notes, asked questions, and went home to give the idea some thought.
‘I had to do a lot of soul-searching,? she said. ‘It’s time for a change.?
Clancy and her husband Jerry Tauer have lived in Springfield Township for 22 of their 23 married years. Between them, the couple has four grown children’Tami, Stacy, Christy and Jeff’and seven grandsons.
A broad range of management experience in public, private and non-profit enterprises make her well qualified for the clerk’s position, Clancy said.
Early professional experience includes a tenure as office manager at Columbiere’s Insight program in Springfield Township.
When she decided she wanted to finish her bachelor’s degree, Clancy took a job at the University of Detroit.
After earning her degree in business administration, Clancy accepted a position producing large-scale summertime events’such as the Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival, the Grand Prix, and the International Freedom Festival in downtown Detroit.
When winter came, she consulted to assist various universities’Wayne State, University of Michigan, Eastern, the University of Detroit and Niagara University’through the accreditation process. In 1997, and the two years following, Clancy realized her longtime dream of becoming an event manager at America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
‘I giggled all the way down the parade route, she said. ‘This is what I always wanted to do. It was a dream come true.?
Clancy said it’s just such ability to set and achieve long term, ambitious goals that makes her a good candidate for clerk.
Among other qualities, Clancy cited a record of ‘integrity with a can-do attitude,? strong organizational skills, and her ability to function as a ‘team player.?
Clancy also said she has been successful in obtaining and utilizing grants to control expense.
Her vision for the township, she said, includes maintaining property values by protecting natural resources such as rivers, lakes, wetlands and forest areas; she’s also in favor of ‘smart? development that adheres to the township’s master plan.
‘Growth is probably essential to future sustainment,? she said. ‘But hopefully we will be able to reach out to the kind of growth that will help us not only survive, but thrive.?
Clancy said she encourages community input and involvement in planning, and supports public safety, the library, parks, and trails.
‘Springfield Township is a wonderful place to live, and I have a vision it will always be a wonderful place to live,? she said. ‘When I pull into my driveway, I feel like I’ve entered another world’my whole back yard is woods. People come to visit and feel like they’re up north.?
Although her property is only about half-acre in size, Clancy said the township’s longtime reputation for careful planning and development, as well as a commitment to preserving the area’s natural resources, make Springfield Township unique.
‘The township has a good master plan in place,? she said. ‘Decisions are made day to day, but made year to year, as well. Everything is solid.?
Clancy said she’s ‘always admired? Springfield Township’s current clerk, Nancy Strole, who will retire after 20 years’four as trustee and the last 16 as clerk’on the township board.
In fact, Clancy said she heard the same question over and over while she was out collecting the petition signatures required for candidacy.
‘What about Nancy??
But when residents learned Strole was retiring, they had other questions, and thoughts and comments of their own to share.
Clancy said she wanted to hear from anyone who wanted to talk.
‘My plan is to be out knocking on doors,? she said. ‘It’s more important to listen to what they have to say than it is for me to do all the talking. It’s important to hear what people are saying in order to make good decisions for everyone in Springfield Township.?
Clancy said she’s eager, excited and ready to run, but admits the election timing is less than perfect; spring and summer are busy months at SCAMP, with several large fundraising events’Walk and Roll, SCAMP Home Tour, and Concours in the Park’taking place before the August primary.
The six week SCAMP program also gets into full swing beginning June 30 and running until August 6.
Clancy said she intends, as always, to give SCAMP her best efforts.
‘I’m really good in a pinch, and I’m committed to this,? she said. ‘I really want to become the next clerk in Springfield Township.?