Long-time Washtenaw County Treasurer Catherine McClary died Monday, Dec. 2 at age 72, only weeks from retirement at year end. She had served as Washtenaw County's treasurer since 1997.
The Treasurer’s role is to serve as Washtenaw County's Banker and Investment Officer; primary responsibilities are to safeguard public funds and to collect and account for revenue used to operate programs for residents. The Treasurer is also responsible for: managing cash and investments; receipting, recording, and depositing revenue for all County services
Certifying deeds; issuing dog and kennel licenses; and collecting delinquent real property taxes.
McClary had a long and distinguished career in public service, and community activism.
In 1974, at the age of 22 and a year from graduation from the University of Michigan, she was the youngest commissioner elected in Washtenaw County, representing District 15 in Ann Ar-bor; and went on to serve 14 years on the board.
A Democrat and a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), this graduate of Lincoln Consolidated Schools was involved over the years with the Domestic Violence Project/SAFE House; Michigan Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League; Washtenaw County Workforce Development Board; Housing Bureau for Seniors; NAACP; National Women’s Health Network; Assault Crisis Center; and advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment.
She also served on the task force on sustainable housing; the Adoptive and Foster Parents Sup-port Group; the Government Finance Officers Association (former member of its executive board); the Michigan Government Finance Officer Association (former board member); and the Michigan Association of County Treasurers (former board member).
She had taught women’s classes at Washtenaw Community College, and had been a seminar leader at a national conference in Washington, D.C., about women and national health insurance. She had been a co-administrator of the Summit Medical Center in Detroit, and director of a
federal mental health project at the Women’s Crisis Center in Ann Arbor where she was a counselor and trainer. She co-authored “Freedom From Rape & How to Organize a Women’s Crisis Service Center,” and was involved in the passage of Michigan’s 1974 Criminal Sexual Con-duct Act.
She was a co-founder of A2 Tax War Counseling. She also advocated for marijuana legalization in the 1970s.
In 2021, she was honored with the Hero Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for her work during the pandemic crisis “whose leadership has led to recovery and renewal in her community,” and on two major Equity projects: Bridge Loans for Affordability and Home for Generations.
The Treasurer’s role is to serve as Washtenaw County's Banker and Investment Officer; primary responsibilities are to safeguard public funds and to collect and account for revenue used to operate programs for residents. The Treasurer is also responsible for: managing cash and investments; receipting, recording, and depositing revenue for all County services
Certifying deeds; issuing dog and kennel licenses; and collecting delinquent real property taxes.
McClary had a long and distinguished career in public service, and community activism.
In 1974, at the age of 22 and a year from graduation from the University of Michigan, she was the youngest commissioner elected in Washtenaw County, representing District 15 in Ann Ar-bor; and went on to serve 14 years on the board.
A Democrat and a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), this graduate of Lincoln Consolidated Schools was involved over the years with the Domestic Violence Project/SAFE House; Michigan Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League; Washtenaw County Workforce Development Board; Housing Bureau for Seniors; NAACP; National Women’s Health Network; Assault Crisis Center; and advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment.
She also served on the task force on sustainable housing; the Adoptive and Foster Parents Sup-port Group; the Government Finance Officers Association (former member of its executive board); the Michigan Government Finance Officer Association (former board member); and the Michigan Association of County Treasurers (former board member).
She had taught women’s classes at Washtenaw Community College, and had been a seminar leader at a national conference in Washington, D.C., about women and national health insurance. She had been a co-administrator of the Summit Medical Center in Detroit, and director of a
federal mental health project at the Women’s Crisis Center in Ann Arbor where she was a counselor and trainer. She co-authored “Freedom From Rape & How to Organize a Women’s Crisis Service Center,” and was involved in the passage of Michigan’s 1974 Criminal Sexual Con-duct Act.
She was a co-founder of A2 Tax War Counseling. She also advocated for marijuana legalization in the 1970s.
In 2021, she was honored with the Hero Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for her work during the pandemic crisis “whose leadership has led to recovery and renewal in her community,” and on two major Equity projects: Bridge Loans for Affordability and Home for Generations.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
