SPRINGFIELD — The City Council selected Associate Solicitor Tasheena Davis as the new city clerk on Monday, describing her as highly experienced and ready to hit the ground running when she takes the job Aug. 1.
Davis was chosen by a vote of 8-4, over a second finalist, lawyer Nancy Ramos of Springfield. Both were among 75 applicants for the position. Davis is the first black woman selected to serve as clerk in city history.
She will replace current Clerk Anthony Wilson, who is leaving Springfield to take the job of city clerk in Cambridge. Wilson’s last day is July 31.
“I am extremely elated to serve the city of Springfield in a new role as city clerk,” Davis said immediately after the vote. “I’m thankful to the City Council. I’m thankful to Mayor (Domenic) Sarno and I’m thankful to everyone that came here to support me tonight. I’m just grateful that I’m the next city clerk.”
A third finalist, Johnathan Elliott Sr., a former criminal defense lawyer in Springfield, was eliminated after a second round of interviews Monday with a City Council Screening Committee. That meeting at City Hall was followed by the council’s special meeting to vote for the clerk.
Council President Justin Hurst said the council had a number of qualified candidates “and Attorney Davis rose to the top.”
“I’m happy that she is going to be our next clerk and I wish Attorney Ramos the best,” Hurst said. “I think it was an excellent process when all is said and done. She’ll be on the job running.”
Davis cited her experience working as associate city solicitor since June of 2016, and as the City Council’s attorney. She said she has the knowledge of laws, ordinances and rules needed to excel in the clerk’s job.
The annual salary range for city clerk in Springfield is listed as $92,270.46 to $119,997.46. Wilson’s salary is $108,232.81.
The city clerk is responsible for the recording of vital statistics, legal records and official City Council records, as well as the issuance of various licenses and official documents, the job description said.
It was learned after initial interviews that Elliott’s law license was suspended in late March for failure to cooperate with a Board of Bar Overseers investigation and that he closed his law office in April. Elliott had also been suspended in 2007. The suspensions did not come up during the public meetings on Monday.
Those councilors voting for Davis were: Tracye Whitfield, Michael Fenton, Melvin Edwards, E. Henry Twiggs, Kenneth Shea, Jesse Lederman, Marcus Williams and Hurst.
Those voting for Ramos were Councilors Adam Gomez, Timothy Ryan, Orlando Ramos and Kateri Walsh. Councilor Timothy Allen was absent.
Nancy Ramos and Orlando Ramos are not related.
Sarno, who nominated Davis for the position, congratulated her in a statement after the vote.
“Tasheena has a strong legal acumen and has done a tremendous job for our City,” he said. “This is a natural progression and ensures a smooth transition for our City government.”
Earlier, several councilors disputed the mayor had any role in the selection process, and said they went by their own process to screen and select the clerk. Sarno said he had the charter power to nominate a candidate for the position, while councilors said the law gave them full selection powers.av
Davis, a Springfield resident, is appointed to a six-year term, under law.
Davis received her law degree from Western New England University in 2015, and her bachelor’s degree from Virginia State University in 2007. Employed by the city Law Department, her experience has included providing legal advice to city departments, representing the city in lawsuits involving land use disputes, and preparations for marijuana regulations and applications.