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Tasheena Davis Begins Tenure As Springfield City Clerk

Tasheena Davis in front of American flag in Springfield City Council chambers
Paul Tuthill
/
WAMC

      A new city clerk takes office tomorrow in Springfield, Massachusetts – the first African American woman to hold the job in the city’s history. 

     Don’t expect any fanfare when Tasheena Davis walks into Springfield City Hall Thursday morning for her first day on the job as city clerk.

     Although the clerk’s office has more day-to-day interactions with members of the public than any other in City Hall, Davis made it clear at her swearing-in ceremony that she has no interest in being in the spotlight.

    "This a lot for me to take in. I am not one for being the center of attention," said Davis.

     The 33-year-old former associate solicitor in the city’s Law Department was sworn in by her predecessor Anthony Wilson as dozens of family members, friends, and co-workers looked on.

    "I appreciate each and every one of you for every email and every phone call and I hope I do a great job," said Davis as the audience broke into applause.

     Davis has pledged to continue Wilson’s initiative to digitize the clerk’s office. 

     " To bring the clerk's office as much into the future as I am able to," said Davis.

     The city clerk is responsible for an office that keeps vital public records including birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, business permits, and municipal financial transactions.  The clerk’s office receives all requests to access public records and posts notices of meetings the public can attend.

    "Government should not be done behind closed doors," said Davis. " One of the most important roles I will have is maintaining open meeting law."

     Davis was hired by the Springfield City Council. At a meeting on July 22nd, eight councilors voted for Davis and four voted for the other finalist for the job, Nancy Ramos, a Springfield attorney.

          City Council President Justin Hurst said Davis rose to the top during a hiring process that began with 75 applicants for the clerk’s job.

     "You were appointed by the City Council because you were the best candidate who just happens to be black and the first black female city clerk in the city of Springfield," said Hurst.

     Mayor Domenic Sarno had “nominated” Davis even as city councilors contended the mayor had no official role to play in filling the clerk vacancy.  

    "We have a very strong mayor who is not willing to back down to the City Council and so long as I am at the helm, the City Council will not be willing to back down to the mayor," said Hurst.

     Sarno called Davis the “best and most qualified” person for the job and praised the work she did in drafting ordinances to govern marijuana businesses in Springfield.

    "When someone breaks that glass ceiling, it is important to take note," stated Sarno.

     Wilson, who was Springfield City Clerk for three and a-half years, has been hired to be city clerk in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

    

     

      

The record-setting tenure of Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. The 2011 tornado and its recovery that remade the largest city in Western Massachusetts. The fallout from the deadly COVID outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers Home. Those are just a few of the thousands and thousands of stories WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill has covered for WAMC in his nearly 17 years with the station.
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