Lily Cavanagh

 
Board of Trustees
Title: Treasurer
Phone: 313-387-2665
Treasurer Lily Cavanaugh


Lily comes from a diverse Hispanic background. Lily and her family immigrated to San Diego California and resided there for over 33 years.

While living in California, Lily met her former husband Phil, and started a family of six children, before moving to Detroit Michigan in 1995. Lily spent 12 years working as a record retention clerk for the Michigan Court of Appeals, keeping that job through 2008 when she was elected Treasurer of Redford Township by 79% of the vote.

This was a feat, as Lily was not only the first Hispanic elected in the Township, but the first woman to hold this position.

As Treasurer, she recognizes the hardships her fellow residents were enduring and established several programs to ease those, including foreclosure prevention outreach and counseling and managing money and budget workshops. Additionally, Lily has implemented security, and internal controls at her payment centers to ensure confidence for customers and employees, best practices, accountability, and cost-saving measures.

Outside of her position as Treasurer, she gives back to the community by volunteering for organizations; sitting as Treasurer of the Wayne County Treasurer's Association; as Chair for the Michigan Spanish Speaking Democrats for many years, translating for Holy Trinity's Legal Clinic; helping Vista Maria at Christmas to help the girls that find themselves there, and has helped the Good fellows sell the Thanksgiving papers.

For fun, Lily enjoys bike riding, hiking, reading, cooking, sewing, and most importantly, spending time with her children and grandchildren.

 

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