'Now is the time': Deputy Health Officer Mansaray to retire as she seeks state office
OTTAWA COUNTY — One of the most recognizable faces in the battle between the Ottawa Impact majority on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and the Department of Public Health is retiring at the end of May.
Deputy Health Officer Marcia Mansaray submitted her notice to Health Officer Adeline Hambley on Friday, April 12, capping off a career that spanned the better part of two decades. Mansaray said her retirement will be effective May 31.
One reason, she said, is burnout after four years of COVID-19 and near-constant tension with the county board.
"While the county is currently not a healthy place to work, there has been a surprising silver lining for me," Mansaray wrote to Hambley. "It pushed me to learn, to grow, to stand taller, and to dream of better things for our community."
Mansaray said OI posed a new and previously unknown problem for a department just getting back to normal operations.
"When COVID-19 sort of wound down to a more reasonable level that could be handled, most of the people — at least (former health officer) Lisa Stefanovsky and I — were pretty exhausted and burned out," Mansaray said.
"I was looking toward a normal year in 2022. And maybe some other people had normal years, but the health department didn't — because the Ottawa Impact group used the health department and its various programs and twisted good and proper things into evil.
"By the time the hospitals weren't overwhelmed anymore with Omicron, we were figuring out a strategy to respond to a hostility that was different (than) we had ever dealt with before," she told The Sentinel, referring to OI's campaign.
That changed Mansaray's thoughts about retirement.
"After the August primary, I knew that I needed to stay here," she said. "And I knew that it was important that I not be the health officer, even though that would be kind of a next normal step."
The previous board appointed Hambley, then the environmental public health director, in December 2022. Mansaray stayed on as deputy.
"It was a strategic move on my part, because that would only bring more attention," Mansaray said. "I just thought, maybe we have a chance. I told the hiring panel that I will be here, I will stand with them, they will have me to help them."
Then came 2023 and "an immediate legal battle," she said.
During their first meeting in January 2023, OI commissioners attempted to demote Hambley in favor of a candidate who aligned with their political views, particularly over how local and state health officials handled the pandemic.
Hambley sued in February 2023 and prevailed just over a year later in a settlement agreement. She remains in her role, as does Mansaray, but the litigation dragged on for over a year and the cost to the health department was severe — the budget approved by commissioners for the current fiscal year slashed millions in funding.
Mansaray gave Hambley high praise for poise during a year that brought great challenges.
"Over these past four years, we have walked through unusual times — a global pandemic from a novel virus, followed by a new (board) with a majority of members who are suspicious of our work to promote the health of our county’s residents and visitors," Mansaray wrote.
"These events tested you, me, and our dedicated and expert staff. Despite that, every member of this department understood our statutory duty to the public, and with tireless purpose and hearts for service, we prevented morbidity and mortality, we promoted healthy communities, and we faithfully served those who bore a disproportionate load of the social and environmental conditions that can lead to poor health in Ottawa County."
But there was irony in her experience, because Mansaray was inspired to run for public office — to prevent what happened in Ottawa from happening again.
"The selfish, arbitrary, power-seeking behavior of the new Ottawa Impact commissioners has led to disregard for the law, a demoralizing environment for county employees, misuse of taxpayer dollars, and calculated attempts to dehumanize some of the county’s residents," she told The Sentinel.
More: 'This is not my party': Deputy Health Director Marcia Mansaray will challenge Slagh
Mansaray launched a bid for the 85th District in the Michigan House of Representatives. She's running as a Democrat. The only Republican who has filed to run is incumbent Brad Slagh, who is seeking a third term.
"If Ottawa Impact hadn't been here, I wouldn't have been inspired to be a candidate. I would never even have considered it in my wildest dreams," she said. "I believe now is the time for me to be another courageous voice for the public’s health and for public health workers on the front lines, for transparent state and local government, and for Ottawa County to be a welcoming place for all people to live, to raise a family, and to thrive."
Mansaray started with the department as a health promotion specialist, chairing the Smoke-Free Ottawa Task Force, which successfully spearheaded a countywide ban on smoking in workplaces and most public places in 2008.
Mansaray went on to be a community health analyst and OCDPH’s senior epidemiologist, using her expertise in biology and biostatistics to identify and analyze disease and other health trends and outbreaks, and leading Ottawa County’s two large health assessments — the Youth Assessment Survey and the Community Health Needs Assessment.
Prior to becoming deputy health officer, Mansaray was health planning and promotion director, where she oversaw the department's prevention programs, including health education, nutrition and wellness, oral health (including the Miles of Smiles program), and Ottawa Pathways to Better Health.
She said she informed the department's leadership team on Monday, April 15.
"They're not happy about it," she said. "I don't want to equate what we've gone through with anything that soldiers go through, but the bonding is similar. And to lose people that you've trusted and that you can depend upon when you're in a situation when there's no one to trust ...
"So I'm concerned a little bit about them, but I think they've gotten this far. They're really strong. We're really strong as a team. And we have three or four eminently qualified people right here at our department. And my view is to interview them and select one of them because we know they already understand what they're getting into."
“Marcia has served her community with a unique blend of wisdom, empathy and grace that I have especially appreciated over the past year. I will miss her partnership and counsel,” Health Officer Adeline Hambley said.
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Mansaray plans to spend more time with her family in her retirement. She's been married to her husband, Alpha, for 10 years. The couple share six children and two grandchildren.
She'll also be on the campaign trail.
"I have been inspired by our community. They certainly surprised me and encouraged me to see how much I care and are willing to care when things go really bad," she said. "It's quite beautiful."
On Friday, April 26, the health department announced that Lisa Uganski, the department’s current Health Planning and Promotion manager, will succeed Mansaray as the next deputy health officer beginning June 3.
Uganski joined the department in 2000 as a registered dietitian and health educator, a position she has held for 21 years where she helped develop and implement prevention and education programming. She also conducted community health needs assessments to identify health issues in Ottawa County.
Uganski received her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Wayne State University and her master’s degree in public health from Des Moines University. She serves as a board member and officer for Hand 2 Hand and is a volunteer with the Community Food Club, according to a news release.
“I am excited about this new opportunity,” Uganski said. “I strongly believe in the value of public health to improve the quality of life for our residents and look forward to helping lead the department’s efforts in Ottawa County.”
Hambley said she expects the transition to go smoothly, welcoming Uganski to the role.
“I’m excited for Lisa to step into this role," Hambley said. "Her knowledge, expertise and passion for serving the community will serve OCDPH well moving forward.”
— Sarah Leach is executive editor of The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @SentinelLeach.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: 'Now is the time': Deputy Health Officer Mansaray to retire as she seeks state office
