Municipal Profile: Clerk's Office

Angela Lovelock hit the ground running when she took the job of deputy clerk one month before Allen Park launched a new voting program.

She was unanimously appointed to the post by the city council on January 9, 2024, and in February Allen Park began offering voters a new voting option. For the first time residents were able to vote in person for each of the nine days before the presidential primary February 27.

“I’m learning in real time with my first election with the city,” Lovelock said a day before the election.


More voting choices

Going forward, nine days of early voting will be available for every federal election. In February 2024, all interested voters cast their ballots early in the council chambers at city hall. But that might change for future elections, Lovelock said. Go to cityofallenpark.org for updated information.

“We’re working on it and we’ll see if we will continue to have it at city hall or move it to another location,” Lovelock said.

Voters may also request absentee ballots from the clerk’s office if they don’t want, or can’t, vote in-person on election day. Absentee ballots can be requested for each election or residents can apply to be on the permanent list to receive a ballot that will be mailed for every election.

“Some people just prefer in-person voting,” she said. “They like to put the ballot in the machine themselves instead of mailing it. Some people get a little nervous about that.”

Clerk Mike Mizzi said Lovelock is an ideal fit for the job. In fact, he said, he has been trying to fill the position for 10 years.

“She has the grit and the wherewithal to do well,” Mizzi said. “There were a couple of ideas she had during the election that I doubted and it ended up being incredible. I wanted someone who has immense knowledge and she’s catching on extremely quickly. She’s adapting.”


Other responsibilities

The clerk’s office also handles animal licenses, which are required annually for canines and felines who are at least six months old. The department also oversees the city council’s agendas and minutes. Lovelock and Mizzi attend all city council meetings. If Mizzi is unavailable Lovelock steps in and does it solo.

Also, the clerk’s office handles requests for birth and death certificates. The cost is $15 for the first copy and $5 for additional copies. Death records are open to the public, while birth records are available only to those named on the certificates.

Freedom of Information Act requests are done at the office, too. FOIA mandates the public has the right to request access to public records – it’s often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government.

“We’re the information hub of the city,” Mizzi said.


Knows community firsthand

After spending many years working in hospitality management Lovelock landed a job in Allen Park’s Finance Department under Director Amanda Wertz. She also worked closely with the treasurer’s office, where she learned the ins and outs of all city departments.

“While I am new to the clerk’s department I look forward to this new chapter with the city and the clerk’s office,” she said.

Lovelock comes to the job as a lifelong Allen Park resident. She is married to Dave Lovelock and has a son and daughter who attend Allen Park schools.

The clerk’s office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call (313) 928-1144 for more information.