EAST SPENCER — If you had asked Michael Douglas how long he thought he might stay as the town administrator of East Spencer when he first came on board in the summer of 2021, he likely would have hedged.
Though Douglas is a dedicated public servant, he initially saw the promising small town as a stepping stone to something bigger. But over time, he grew attached to the town of less than 2,000 residents and the promise he saw there.
And along the way, he became the town’s first ever town manager as he walked the town’s board of aldermen through the process of shifting from a mayor/council form of government to a town manager form of governance.
“I know we were hesitant at first, but Michael explained, and demonstrated, so clearly, the benefits of separating the jobs of the mayor and the board members from the daily ins and outs of the work that the town manager handles,” said Mayor Barbara Mallett. “It meant that I had to give up some things, but in truth, they were things I didn’t really need to be handling, and it gave me and the rest of the board a chance to grow in other ways. It has truly been a point of positive growth for us.”
Because Douglas took over the daily grind of instituting policies the council adopted as well as the financial management, including grant applications, it left the council free to take a broader view of the town’s future, and set higher, and more beneficial goals for residents.
East Spencer was not Douglas’ first foray into municipal work. A former military man, with more than 20 years in the service, Douglas served in the US Army from 1995 until he retired in 2013 at Fort Bragg. His name now resides on the National Military Monument in Washington, D.C., a tribute to the generations of military service men and women throughout the country’s 250 years.
He taught for two years before deciding to return to a passion from his younger years — politics. Not as a political candidate, though, but as a civil servant who helps put political policies into practice. He worked in local administration in Green Level and Kenly before coming to East Spencer.
A California native, Douglas now lives in Raleigh with his wife, Marchell Adams-Davis, the city manager of Raleigh. During the week, for more than five years running, Douglas has spent his weekdays, and nights, in East Spencer, traveling home to Raleigh on weekends and holidays.
“I had hoped I could stay here long enough at this point to see things I and this administration have set in motion to fruition,” Douglas said Tuesday. “But the hard truth is, I am exhausted. I need to get back to my home front. But leaving now may be the best time for the town to make this change, because the staff we have put together is probably the best we have ever had. They are clicking along like clockwork, and everyone is going above and beyond. So I believe this is the staff that can continue to move our goals and plans forward.”
The town advertised for the position on Tuesday after formally accepting Douglas’ resignation Monday night.
Douglas’ contract requires that he give the town 90 days’ notice, and he submitted the resignation in May, but the board had hoped to find a way to get him to stay. In the end, Douglas said he had to explain that it is better for his own health and for the town to make the break now.
“It’s time for someone with fresh energy and a fresh set of eyes to take over,” he said. But his expression was wistful. He has accomplished a tremendous amount in the last five years, from bolstering infrastructure to getting rid of blighted properties to both residential and commercial development. And perhaps the biggest project of all, a proposed data center that would benefit both East Spencer and Spencer that would be built on Long Ferry Road, is still in the planning stages.
“I know these have brought on a lot of objections, and I certainly respect that, but the benefit to East Spencer far outweighs those,” he said. “It would be life-altering for us, and would move us forward on our arc of improvements in ways that we probably can’t imagine.”
So he is hopeful the town will find a successor that has at least several years of experience in municipal government, because they are going to need to be strong, and to continue to go to bat for the town and its best interests.
Though Douglas has already officially completed his final day as town manager, ending his career there on Thursday, Aug. 6 at noon, he will continue to remotely offer consulting or advice, from Raleigh, should the town need it, through the end of the year. He will receive no further compensation for that.
“I will miss Michael’s frankness, honestly,” said Rev. George Jackson, who joined the board of aldermen in 2023. “At first, I thought he could be a bit abrasive, but it didn’t take long to understand, and appreciate, that he tells you exactly what it is. He gives you straight vanilla, no added flavors or colors or anything extra. It is a direct and complete explanation.”
“He has gotten so many grants for the town it’s a little unbelievable,” added Mallett. “And the money has been put to such amazing use, between our water line upgrades and our street work and the housing he has brought in. He has made East Spencer a desirable place to live.
“In fact, he has changed the image of East Spencer. That’s not easy to do, especially for a black community. But Michael has done that. We are now a contender, and not the forgotten or dismissed town. He’s given our residents a sense of pride of hometown.”
In 2024, Douglas was one of only four people to receive the national Veterans Recognition Award from the International City/County Management Association, reflecting his commitment to Rowan County and not just East Spencer. And that is something that Chairman of the Rowan County Commissioners Greg Edds is well aware of.
“Michael has been an exceptional leader for the town of East Spencer,” Edds said when he received confirmation of Douglas’ departure. “His steady leadership has guided the town through an unprecedented period of growth and progress, and it has been a real privilege to watch.
“Beyond serving the mayor and the board, he has been a positive influence of leaders across Rowan County, including me,” Edds went on. “He’s shown a remarkable ability to bring people together and create solutions that benefit everyone. More than a colleague, he has become a dear friend. While he will be greatly missed, his legacy of leadership will continue to inspire East Spencer and the Rowan community for years to come. I wish him the very best in the future.”
As for Douglas, he said he hopes that the residents remember his dedication to them. Not one project in particular, but his overarching belief that the residents of East Spencer deserve the best, deserve to be heard, and his attempts to deliver just that.
“He has had the ability to manage with compassion,” said Jackson. “He considers the residents in everything he does, and has always tried to cause as little pain to as few as possible. With change there is always going to be some pain, but he has worked to minimize it.”
Jackson and Mallett also said Douglas has improved community engagement, with more and more residents coming to town meetings to share their thoughts, ask questions and get answers.
Police Chief John Fewell agreed with the board members that Douglas is leaving some big shoes to fill.
“He has supported not only our police department but our fire department,” Fewell said. “He has been amazing to work with, on so many fronts, and I’m going to miss him, professionally and personally.
When asked what he’ll miss the most, Douglas didn’t hesitate.
“The mayor,” he said. “She has been not only an incredible mayor and leader to work with, but she’s been like a mother, and that makes it hard. Bittersweet.”
Although the town will consider applications from outside North Carolina, their preference is to find someone inside the state, who is familiar with state laws and state government. While they seek Douglas’ replacement, Mallett said she will be acting town manager for the “very short term,” until they decide if they will appoint an official acting town manager.
“Michael was here at the right place, at the right time, for our town,” said Mallett. “It’s going to be an adjustment, but he has set us on such a strong path going forward that I believe we can continue to bring our dreams to fruition.”
For more information, please contact Elisabeth Strillacci, Town of East Spencer communications assistant at 860-605-4708 (cell) or 704-636-7111 (city offices).
