CLEARFIELD – Joan Robinson-McMillen announced she will not seek re-election as a Clearfield County Commissioner at Tuesday’s meeting.
“Over the past seven years, it has been an honor to represent the citizens of Clearfield County as your county commissioner,” she said.
“I have always believed in term limits and as many of you have heard me say over the years, I would only serve two terms.”
In reflecting on her two terms, Robinson-McMillen shared “fond memories” of recruiting Wild Well Services to locate in Clearfield County following a well blow out and assisting with bringing WhiteWave Foods to DuBois.
Other fond memories, she said, included relocating the county’s offices to downtown Clearfield, negotiating the sale of the Multi-Service Center to make way for the second Graystone senior housing facility, working to realign the routes and services of ATA to better serve all of Clearfield County and lowering taxes by 2.5 mills in 2010.
According to Robinson-McMillen, one of the most important functions of the commissioners’ office is to balance the budget and to know the “ins and outs” of the county’s expenses. “It was something that I really grabbed a hold of,” she said.
During her service as commissioner, she also represented Clearfield County on the Land, Energy and Environment Committee of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP), the State Planning Board, the State Energy Task Force, the PCOMP Board and as chairperson of the Central Counties Youth Center.
“Over the coming year, I will continue to work to move Clearfield County forward in a positive way,” said Robinson-McMillen. “It has not always gone as smoothly as I hoped for, but I have always done my very best for the residents of our county.”
Commissioner John A. Sobel quoted Margaret Thatcher, who once said, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” He said that was the epitome of Robinson-McMillen, who was a “doer” and the “spark” of the commissioners’ office.
“If Mark and I are back for another term, we will certainly miss her presence here,” said Sobel. Commissioner Mark B. McCracken said he wanted to congratulate Robinson-McMillen, who “put her heart and mind” into her work at the commissioners’ office.