Fern Spence with over 20 years of community involvement in Grand Traverse County, champions causes to bring positive change. As a parent and wife, she prioritizes creating safe, healthy, and prosperous environments for all. Her commitment to enhancing residents' quality of life through community projects reflects her dedication to overall health. Fern's volunteerism and family perspective equip her to understand and address local families' needs like housing, healthcare and childcare. She values hard work, public service and creating safer spaces for all.

Fern’s Family, Career and Education

Fern Spence moved to Frankfort during high school, where her dad worked for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and her mom was a nurse. Growing up, she learned about community service from her parents. Fern worked her way through college at Michigan State University, built a successful business and sales career, and has been married to Doug Spence for over 20 years with two college-aged children. She has actively supported local youth and has been involved in her children's activities. Fern's family currently resides in Garfield Township after living on Old Mission Peninsula for 10 years.
In May 2023, Fern earned a Master in Urban and Regional Planning from Michigan State University. With a background as a transportation planner at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Fern has a strong understanding of mobility issues. Her dedication to addressing community needs makes her a strong candidate for County Commissioner.

Fern’s Volunteer Experience and
Community Commitment

Fern Spence is a dedicated public servant with a passion for community development. As the co-chair of Garfield Township parks and recreation commission and a member of the zoning board of appeals (ZBA), Fern has been actively involved in advocating for the township's parks and increasing walkability.
Fern's commitment to aligning with the community's needs is evident through her involvement. By representing the residents' voices, she has been instrumental in advocating for projects that reflect the desires of the community.
Fern Spence's track record of service and advocacy makes her a strong candidate for the GT County Commission. With her dedication and experience, she is poised to continue making a positive impact on the community.

Fern wants to make it safer for people, especially kids, to walk and get outside. This fits with her aim to build quality of life and a healthier community. She has lobbied for a safe sidewalk to West Senior High School to make it safer for students to get to school. She focused on creating better walking and biking paths in the community during her kids' school years. Progress has been made in improving these paths, showing her dedication to making safe routes for students and residents. Fern's commitment to this cause has led her to pursue more education in regional planning. Her volunteer work lets her speak up for important community improvements and has motivated her to get more education to meet the township's evolving needs. She's focused on improving infrastructure for the safety of students and residents. She's passionate about improving the well-being of individuals and finding effective solutions to community challenges in Grand Traverse County.

• Garfield Township Parks and Recreation Co-chair

• Garfield Township Zoning Board of Appeals

• Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener

• Former Deacon-Presbyterian Church of Traverse City

• TCAPS Parent Volunteer

• VASA Ski Club Volunteer

• Hagerty Youth Cycling

• Former Traverse Area Community Sailing (TACS) Instructor

Fern’s Goals For Grand Traverse County

Improved Quality of Life and Healthy Community

Fern recognizes the impact that our citizens' overall health has on our community. She is committed to identifying and implementing practical strategies to address the mental, emotional, and physical health needs of our county.
The well-being of Grand Traverse County is directly tied to the public health initiatives that we undertake. By improving access to healthcare services, promoting healthy lifestyle choices, and addressing mental health concerns, we can foster a more vibrant community.
Ensuring that our citizens have access to safe and affordable housing, as well as essential services such as healthcare, childcare and public education, is essential in creating a thriving and inclusive community. By addressing these fundamental needs, we can improve the overall quality of life for all residents.
By working together, we can create a healthier and more prosperous community for all.

Plan for Safety and Smart Transportation 

Having gained regional transportation and community planning experience, Fern supports complete streets which includes all motor vehicles, non-motorized transportation like walking and biking, and public transit. Fern has nudged Garfield Township towards building more active transportation infrastructure especially in areas of high residential density that are close to essential services like food stores and schools. Walking and biking should be safe and accessible to all and this issue is relevant to Grand Traverse County’s growth. See Fern’s graduate studies capstone project from MSU for Garfield Township and her MDOT M-55 Pure Michigan Byway project completed in November 2023.

Public Engagement

Inviting citizen engagement in decision making is important to Fern and is one of the reasons she is running for Grand Traverse County Commission.  Residents sometimes feel left out, claiming to be unaware of development taking place around them. Let's have an open door policy, invite citizen’s to the table, and better collaborate and enhance what people value about our community. Fern’s education and learned experience can help to guide developers and other stakeholders through a community-wide long term planning process that will benefit everyone.