After serving nearly 12 years on the Oxford Township Board, Trustee Shirley Clancy announced last week she will not seek reelection later this year.
“Twelve years for a trustee is a long time,” she said. “There should be the opportunity for others to serve.”
Rather than reflect on her three terms in office, Clancy preferred to use this story as a means to encourage others to run for her seat and the township board in general.
“I don’t want this article to be about me,” she said. “I would like to spur interest (in running for township board).”
Clancy said she’s concerned about the dwindling participation in township government. She said when she first ran for office in 1992 there were about 11 candidates for the four trustee spots.
“There was a wide variety of people running for office,” she said. “That was nice for our community. It makes the dialogue better and the involvement better. We had a (televised) candidates night where people could come and ask questions. It got people interested.”
“We don’t have that now,” Clancy explained. “The last few years the number of people who have filed (to run for elected office) has decreased significantly.”
In addition to that, the trustee said citizen participation at the township meeting is “so limited.”
“Citizens need to get more involved,” Clancy said.
When asked why she believes it’s important for residents to serve and participate in their township government, Clancy replied, “It’s where we live. It’s where we raise our families. It’s our day-to-day environment. What better place to put your efforts into.”
Clancy’s initial run for trustee in 1992 was spawned by her involvement in an organization that at the time was actively opposing the placement of a landfill in Oxford.
“I had no intention of running for office, but through that process I was encouraged (to run) by the people I worked with,” she said. “It occurred to be I’d been comfortable enjoying Oxford, but not participating (in its governance).”
“When I made the choice to run, it just seemed so right,” Clancy said. “I have the feeling there are a lot of citizens in our community who have never entertained the idea of running for public office. Maybe they think it’s something you need a whole list of qualifications for or it costs a lot (to mount a campaign).”
Other than being at least 18 years old, a registered township voter, a resident of the township for at least 30 days and a U.S. citizen, there are no qualifications to hold office.
As for campaign costs, Clancy said they’re relatively low for local elections.
Clancy said some potential candidates “might be scared of the elective process” because they’re “not familiar with it.”
However, assistance is available from both the Republican and Democratic parties and even the township itself.
“The clerk’s office is just a wonderful resource for that kind of information,” she said.
Once elected to office, Clancy said there’s a “plethora” of educational resources and opportunities available to help inform and guide both new and experienced officials.
“Education is so important. It’s key,” Clancy said. “The Michigan Townships Association has a conference in January that is just marvelous. They have classes there for newly elected officials.”
The MTA also offers conferences and seminars throughout the year as does Oakland County and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).
From budgets and boardsmanship to administration and ordinance provisions, education is offered regarding a wide variety of topics, Clancy said.
Township funding is provided for this on-going education, the trustee noted.
The MTA also publishes the Little Red Book: Authorities and Responsibilities of Michigan Township Officials, Boards and Commissions, a kind of how-to guide and textbook for township officials.
Clancy recommended new officials sit in on as many committee and board meetings that they don’t serve on as they possibly can to learn and stay informed.
“Networking” is another resource Clancy advocated.
“Officials from other municipalities are always willing to share their time, ideas and information,” she said. “They’re a wonderful resource.”
As for how much time one must devote to be an effective township official, Clancy said that all depends on the individual and their level of commitment.
“You can put in as much time as you feel is necessary” and that time includes reading documents, attending township board meetings, attending the meetings of committees you’ve been appointed to, utilizing the educational resources, etc.
“In order to be effective, you need to do your homework, which means doing your reading or sometimes plain old leg work,” she said. “Because we’re a growing township there are a lot of issues coming forward and they’re coming forward very fast. You have to keep abreast of them.”
“Laws and ordinances keep changing and new or unique issues appear unexpectedly. Even though you would like to, you never know it all. Officials are always involved in the process of learning.”
Clancy said an average trustee could devote between 10 and 20 hours a week to their duties, but again it depends on the individual.
As for what kind of people Clancy would like to see run for township board, she said, “Anyone who steps forward and they’re willing to lay it on the line, is not afraid to ask questions, is open about issues and willing to get them out there.”
The trustee said she wants candidates who have a “love for the community,” a desire to participate and a concern for “what you leave behind.”
“Those are the kind of people I’m hoping we have step forward and run for office,” she said.
As for her years on the township board, Clancy said, “It was a nice time to serve. A lot of future direction for Oxford happened in the last 12 years.”
However, Clancy refuses to take any individual credit for that direction.
“I never saw my role on the board as one person,” she said. “You really work together. Any accomplishment belongs to that body of seven.”
What affect those decisions will have on the township will be evident in the next “10 or 15 years,” the trustee said.
“I think we’ve made some wise decisions in our planning goals. I think we’ve hung onto a lot of nice features for Oxford. But I think we can do better. I hope whoever comes behind me and fills my spot does it better.”