Timeline
12/2004 - 2008 Ruth Ann Jamnick
is elected and currently serving her first term as Ypsilanti Township Supervisor.
1999 - 2004 Ruth Ann served 6 Years as the State Representative for the 54th District. She gained valuable knowledge and experience working in Lansing.
Ruth Ann created strong working relationships with both democrats and republicans. Her knowledge of local issues made
her a valuable legislator while serving in Lansing.
1976 - 1998 Ruth Ann Jamnick served 22 continuous years
as Ypsilanti Township's first female Treasurer.
Ruth Ann campaigns during the 1976 Democratic Primary to be elected to the office of
Ypsilanti Township Treasurer. She runs as an independent democratic candidate not affiliated with any slate of candidates.
She introduces the "blue & white " campaign colors that are still associated with her campaign today. One of
her campaign slogans was "Maybe the Best Man for the Job is THIS Woman".
The slogan came from a yard sign that Ruth Ann saw on her way to Saginaw for a bowling tournament that read "Maybe
the Best Man for the Job is a Woman".
Ruth Ann learned from her unsuccessful 1974 campaign that she needed to be more informed
on Township issues and that she would have to work even harder during this election. During this time period women were
making progress in becoming elected in the traditionally male dominated world of politics but in most cases they were hard
fought battles. The campaign was worked by a small group of dedicated family members friends and supporters from her
previous campaign. The hard work paid off when Ruth Ann was elected has the first female Ypsilanti Township Treasurer
in August of 1976.
In 1977, Ruth Ann remarried to William "Joe" Jamnick. She became a step mother
to his 2 daughters Tammy and Laura. The blended family moved to Munger Rd in the more rural south west part of the Township.
Ruth Ann learned about blending a family that consisted of 5 teenagers. She experienced first hand some of the issues
residents face living in the more rural areas of the Township and she learned more about small business by helping Joe with
the accounting books for his Plumbing & Heating business. Ruth Ann and Joe divorced in the late 80s. In the early 90's Ruth Ann purchased a home in Ford lake Heights where she resides today.
She was one of the founding members of the Washtenaw County Treasurers Association. She
served on the Michigan Townships Association Board of Directors. During her years serving as the Township Treasurer
the office was computerized, summer tax collection was implemented according to state statutes, and fiscal stability was maintained
in the Township.
Ruth Ann was an active participant in many local community projects and organizations
including The Festival of Lights, The Heritage Festival, and Ypsilanti Pride Community Clean Up Day. She served in various
positions on the Washtenaw County United Way Board and the Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce Board including the first Car Raffle
Chair. Ruth Ann was the chair of the Ypsilanti Vsitors and Convention Bureau for 8 years.
1974 Ruth Ann made her first run for an elected
office. She was a member of "The Friendly Four Democratic Team" one of 3 slates of
candidates running together for township offices. Ruth Ann was the Treasurer candidate on a team consisting of Bill
Gagnon for Supervisor, Billy Turner and Richard Horn as the trustee candidates.
The "Friendly Four" fought a tough campaign that included long hours going door
to door, disappearing yard signs, and many late night dinners from Bill's Hot Dog Stand on Michigan Avenue. The "Friendly
Four" Campaign Headquarters was a couple of buildings west of the hot dog stand. In the end it was not meant to
be. None of the candidates on the "Friendly Four Team" won in the 1976 Election.
After the initial disappointment of losing her first election passed, Ruth Ann set her sights on the next election cycle in 1976.
She spent the next 2 years attending almost every township board meeting and studying up on local issues that impacted
Ypsilanti Township residents.
1972 Ruth Ann and Jerry divorce. Ruth Ann continues
to raise their three children in the home on Rosewood. Ruth Ann gains first hand experience in the difficulties of being
a single parent raising 3 young children. She continues to work in the Ypsilanti Township Treasurer's Office.
She works briefly in the Supervisor's office under Supervisor Bill Gagnon before leaving to work as a receptionist for the
Washtenaw County Road Commission on Zeeb Road in Scio Township.
Ruth Ann learns to juggle the responsibilities of being a single working mom and
raising three growing children at a time when this was not the norm. Ruth Ann and her children are blessed to have support
from their church, relatives, friends, and neighbors. Ruth Ann actively demonstrates
and instills in her children the importance of having an acceptance of God's plan for our lives, a strong work ethic,
honesty, community involvement, and an appreciation of diversity.
The challenging times also help the family learn the importance of having a sense of
humor and a sense of togetherness. Ruth Ann made sure the kids learned one of her favorite past times by signing them
up for Saturday Pop and Hot Dog Kids Bowling Leagues at the Thunderbird Lanes which were located on Michigan Ave. One
of the family's other favorite activities was to take a drive or go to the drive in to see a movie. Ruth Ann's red Mustang
was frequently seen pulling up the the "Cow" Carry Dairy on Ecorse Road with 3 kids taking turns ordering an
ice cream snack. On pay day Fridays, the family would look forward to being treated to a Million Dollar Pizza from Milanos.
It was a super size pizza that came with a Michigan Lottery Ticket.
1962 Ruth Ann Richards marries Jerry Tom Goodridge
of Milan. The wedding was held at St. John the Baptist Church on Cross Street. The Wedding Reception was held
at the old Armory building which has been demolished was located near the east entrance ramp to I94 off Huron
Street and the current entrance to North Bay Park The reception was catered by family and friends but the wedding
cake came from Terry Bakery in downtown Ypsilanti.
Jerry and Ruth Ann rented a house on Devonshire before purchasing their own home at
569 Rosewood Street in 1965 for $13,500. Together they had 3 children: Debra (Debbie) Anne, Trisha Anne, and Jerry
(JT) Thomas Goodridge.
1960 Ruth Ann earns a Secretarial B Diploma (the equivalent of what would
be an administrative assistant degree today) from Cleary College. She was a member of the last graduating
class from the old Cleary College building that was located on Michigan Ave and Adams Street in downtown Ypsilanti which was
located on the current site of the Eastern Michigan University Business School. A new Cleary College building was built
on Washtenaw Avenue near Hewitt on the property that is now a Walgreen's Drug Store. Cleary University is currently
located on Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor with a Livingston County Branch just outside Brighton.
Immediately following her graduation from Cleary College, Ruth Ann began her career in Ypsilanti Township in a clerical position in the Treasurer's Office for Treasurer James
E. Sanderson, Jr. It was the first time the office added a second clerical position. Ruth Ann worked in the Old
Township Hall building that was located on Ecorse Rd near Glenwood. This building also housed a Township
Fire Station. The building has since been demolished.
1959 Ruth Ann graduates
from St. Thomas Catholic High School in Ann Arbor. State Representative Alma Wheeler Smith was one of her classmates.
One of Ruth Ann's favorite subject was English. Ruth Ann participated in the Junior Achievement Program.
As a teenager, Ruth Ann enjoyed reading, bowling, and cruising to the Chick Inn with her sisters and friends.
Ruth Ann gained experience and a growing interest in accounting
and finance by keeping track of the financial records for her father's business, Richards Construction. Her
father George was a union mason contractor. There are many reddish brown brick homes especially on the Northwest side
of Ypsilanti Township that were built by Ruth Ann's father.
Ruth Ann attended grade school at St. John's Catholic School in Ypsilanti.
1946/1947- Ruth Ann Richards attends Kindergarten
at Lincoln Consolidatd Training School. Her teacher, Miss Ida K. Brink, writes "ability
to organize & lead, an alert mind - good ability in every way, sweet, friendly ways when not tired" on Ruth
Ann's December 20, 1946 Elementary Pupil's Home Report. Miss Brink also writes an article for the March Issue of the
Instructor, a teacher's magazine, titled "We Keep Our Toys Mended", which is includes a photograph of Ruth
Ann mending the wheel on one of their toys.
1941 Ruth Ann
Jamnick was one of the "Beyer Babies" born at Beyer Memorial Hospital in
Ypsilanti to parents George F. Richards and Ruth Ella (Riggs) Richards. She grew up in Ypsilanti as the second oldest
of George and Ruth's 4 daughters: Rosemarie, Ruth Ann, Gerry, and Peggie.
