DOWAGIAC — When Patty Patano was notified that she had been elected as Dowagiac’s next city clerk, her mind immediately went to her grandparents, who arrived in Dowagiac from Poland in 1922.

“I’m feeling a little bit of the full circle fruition of things they would have never thought about,” Patano said.

Patano was elected as Dowagiac’s newest city clerk Tuesday. Running as write-in candidate, she won against opponent Bill Leonard 242-99.

Patano’s family roots extend throughout the city. Her grandfather worked for the Round Oak Stove Company. Her mother also worked for Round Oak in high school, leaving briefly to attend nursing school in Chicago, but eventually returning to work at Ascension Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital. Patano’s aunt, Helen, worked for the draft board during WWII. Her other aunt, Irene, was publisher of the Dowagiac Daily News during the 1960s. Her uncle, Ted, also served as a postman in Dowagiac.

Patano grew up in Oak Park, Illinois but called Dowagiac “the home of her heart,” as she would spend summers, weekends and holidays in Dowagiac.

“Dowagiac was like our Disneyland,” Patano said, as she remembered walks to downtown Dowagiac with her sisters from their grandparents’ home on E. Division Street. The home is still in the family.

Patano eventually moved to California and spent 35 years working in the cooperate world. She moved back to Dowagiac in 2010 with plans of retirement, but instead has done the opposite of slow down by continuing to be active in the community.

“I enjoy still giving,” Patano said.  “I’m not ready to stop.”

For Patano, retirement does not feel like sitting back. Instead, it looks like continuing to make a meaningful impact.

While in Dowagiac, she has worked at the Cass County Council on Aging in community development and has been involved in the Cass County Drug Court program.

Patano had always been interested in public service, but it was not until she was asked by community members to run for city clerk that she made the decision to join the election as a write-in candidate.

“When they approached me, and I looked into it, I thought, ‘Well, why not?’” Patano said. “It’s always nice to start off with support.”

Patano is looking forward to establishing working relationships with councilmembers and others at City Hall.

“Personally, I just know I want to give it my all. I just know I love being engaged with people,” Patano said.

Also Tuesday, city council members Danielle Lucas, James Dodd and Randy Gross were reelected as members of the city council after running unopposed.