Ruth Johnson
Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds

In her years of service to the people of Oakland County - Ruth Johnson has never wavered in her belief that government has two responsibilities: Providing the best service at the lowest cost while at the same time being held accountable to the people it serves.

As a state representative, she exposed unethical business practices at the Oakland Intermediate School District. The investigation led to criminal charges against one top administrator, tougher laws and more importantly - restored money earmarked for kids to kids.

As a county commissioner, Ruth tackled such issues as putting trustee prisoners to work, educating the public about the dangers of arsenic in local water supplies and pushed for an ethics policy in county purchasing.

Elected in 2004 as Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds - Ruth is still pushing for lean government.

By renegotiating one computer scanning contract alone, she saved the county more than $2 million over five years. She reduced overtime in her office by 90 percent and even sliced paper costs.

The first woman elected clerk in Oakland County's 176-year history, she also put technology to work. Ruth, with a motto of "online, not in line," expanded online offerings to make services more convenient to residents, while at the same time reducing lines for people who come into the Clerk/Register of Deeds Office.

Online access is now available to the county's Assumed Names/Co-Partnership business database, the State of Michigan's Notary index and absentee ballot applications. The county's veterans can easily access military discharge applications electronically too.

Her accomplishments include obtaining - with the help of local clerks, the Board of Commissioners and the Secretary of State - more than $5 million in grants for the purchase of new M-100 voting equipment for all of Oakland County's 61 communities.

Ruth, who grew up in Waterford Township, put herself through college, working to earn an associate's degree from Oakland Community College and a bachelor's degree from Oakland University in 1977. She earned her teaching certificate and went on to earn her master's degree - with honors - in 1985 from Wayne State University.

She taught for the Clarkston Schools and later owned and operated a small business. During her graduate years, she had an internship at Oakland County Probate Court. Following graduation, she worked at Oakland County Children's Village.

In 1988, she was elected to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and served five terms (10 years) including six years as vice chairperson.

From 1998 to 2004, Ruth served as Assistant Whip, co-chaired the Capitol Caucus and served on the Leadership Committee. She chaired the House Land Use and Environment Committee and also served on the Education, Health Policy, Transportation, Veteran Affairs and Homeland Security committees.

As a representative, she also chaired the Land Use and Environment Committee, sponsoring Open Space Preservation legislation that won the support of both environmentalists and builders.

Today, Ruth lives in Holly with her husband, Don Nanney, and their daughter Emily.

History of Community Involvement:

• In 2004, she earned the National Federation of Small Business Award
• Member of the American Business Women's Association and various Chambers of Commerce
• Charter member of the Holly Area Optimists
• Chairperson of the Aging and Social Services Committee for the Michigan Association of Counties
• Board member for the Lake Louise and Tipsico Lake Improvement boards

Staff

• Christopher Ward --  Deputy Clerk/Register of Deeds
• Constance Spak -- Deputy Clerk/Register of Deeds