Today we’d like to introduce you to Danalyn Savage
Hi Danalyn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I think of Western New York I think Buffalo Bills, snow storms, Buffalo wings and Beef on Weck. But I grew up more than an hour away from Buffalo. When I say I am from Middleport, NY, it doesn’t elicit anything but weird looks from people and an explanation from me about the Erie Canal.
There’s a stigma attached to small towns – many say they foster small thinking. While I was raised in a small town and now live in a small community, my family and my international travels empowered me to learn from anyone and serve everyone.
My oldest son is named after his great-grandfather, Wesley Mackmer. During his lifetime, Wesley was a dairy farmer, a postman, an insurance salesman, and an encouragement to his grandchildren. He did all of this from Collins Center, New York. He grew up in a farming family, where he learned the value of hard work and education.
Wesley also valued travel, though he did not do much of that himself. At over six feet tall, he could have been intimidating, but his grandchildren always felt like a priority, and we knew how much he loved us. He always asked what we were up to and where we were traveling, tracking our moves on a wall map in his home.
His wife, Harriet, made her own money. Strong and independent, Harriet spent her days caring for two older women named Charlotte and Anna, whose families had abandoned them. “Gram” looked out for me and my sisters, ensuring we had treats and nice clothes when we came to their house. She did her best to look out for us and make sure we knew we were loved.
My grandparents taught me and showed me what hard work, compassion, and unconditional love looked like. I kept the last letter Gram wrote to me just before I went to law school, and I still re-read it to this day as a reminder that what I do and how I treat others matters. After I became a Judge I had part of the letter tattooed onto my arm so that I carry her with me wherever I go.
The village I grew up in, Middleport, New York, was not much bigger than the one my grandparents lived in. I joke that there are more cows than people. In fact, most people do not leave the area, or they do not move more than a couple hours away. I knew from a young age that I was different. I needed to see the world outside of my small town in Western New York.
I had a taste of this when I was a teenager and went to a couple of basketball camps in Pennsylvania. When I went to college, while not far away from home, I took every opportunity to stay out on my own. I spent my first summer cleaning dorms. That is a test in character if there ever was one. After that summer, those dorms were the shiniest and cleanest they had been since the 1980’s.
I spent two summers as a nanny. The first summer was not the greatest experience. I learned what it feels like to be treated like less than a person. From that experience, I learned to see others with compassion and to treat everyone as a human.
The second summer, the family I worked for made me feel like part of the family. They included me on trips and family functions. When Grandpa Mackmer was declining that summer, they sent me back to see him and then when he died that summer, they sent me back to the funeral. I never had to ask. I had never experienced that kind of compassion and humanity before that summer. I realize now that my time with them helped prepare me to be a better human.
Though I traveled to Guatemala, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, and India to play basketball during college and law school, my trip to Zambia with my husband in 2011 left the most lasting impact on me. We partnered with friends at Northrise University whose goal is to equip and empower their students to transform their country and lift their families out of poverty. I taught a class in the community on domestic violence and child abuse. This was my specialized focus at work as a prosecutor at the time.
I went to Zambia thinking I was going to be able to teach the people so much. I discovered I had a lot of knowledge but lacked understanding. What I did not understand well was their culture, what domestic abuse looks like for them, or how it affects their community. I learned that I knew nothing about the challenges they face. I can give them information, but they are the best suited to know how it can be applied to their culture and their communities. It was beautiful and humbling to see this in action. I left a different person, better educated and more sensitive when it comes to the different family and cultural dynamics at play in the world.
I spent 19 years working as an attorney, including nearly 17 years as a prosecutor. Prosecuting domestic violence and juvenile cases dominated my career, where I learned a lot about seeing the humanity in other people and asking questions so I could humbly learn. Public service became my passion and I am grateful for the reputation I’ve built for integrity and a high standard of ethics. I was honored when a large number of prosecutors and defense attorneys wrote public comments recommending me to become a judge.
My grandparents instilled the values of hard work, self-reliance, and compassion for others. They supported my career ambitions and desire to travel internationally to grow myself. My experiences working a variety of jobs alongside a variety of people have shaped how I treat everyone– from the judges I stood in front of to the people who clean my office and now the people who appear in front of me in the courtroom.
The central thing I have learned through all these experiences is that seeing the humanity in each person is essential. Being interested in others, seeing what another person faces, and helping when I can, are all things I learned from my grandparents. I understand small town dynamics, but I have also seen how big and diverse the world is. I cannot save the world; that is an unattainable task. I can see a need and help fill that need while helping empower those I help. I can listen to the stories of others and adjust my worldview. I can honor the humanity in every person.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There has been nothing smooth about the road to where I am now. From facing down bullies in school and at my church as a child, to overcoming my fears and learning to believe that I deserve to be in each room I enter, it has been a long and harrowing process.
Even now, I am facing an election where I am the first Judge in our County to run opposed since the 90’s. And there are bullies trying to make me feel small. Though it is impossible to know for sure, I am likely the first Judge in this County to run opposed in a general election. Some people don’t like my party affiliation (Independent). I refuse to back down from my conviction that for me to do my job right as a judge, I must remain Independent. Judges are supposed to be non-partisan in a world where everything and everyone seems to live their life based on a party affiliation. I am an anomaly and there are many who do not like that I don’t fit into their convenient worldview boxes. I am willing to face the bullies, even if nobody else will. And even thought the result of the election was not what I had hoped, and I had one week to find a new job, I am committed to serving my community.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My career as an attorney has spanned 19 years. Most of that time was spent as a prosecutor in two different counties in Arizona. During those years I had two main areas of focus: domestic violence and juvenile delinquency. I am grateful for the time I spent in college as a Psychology major. My concentration was counseling and it has served me well in trying to understand people and find creative ways to help them process their circumstances and connect with them where they are.
My caseload as a judge was drug treatment court, mental health court, probation violation, and conservatorship/guardianship cases. This mix of criminal and civil cases has allowed me to apply what I learned as a prosecutor, as well as opened me up to learning new areas of civil law. I’m proud of my ability to listen well, learn quickly, and organize a great system. I’m proud of the court staff I hired. Together, we worked hard every day to serve everyone who comes in our courtroom and ensure they receive a just and fair process.
I believe my three core values set me apart. I’m committed to seeing the humanity in everyone who steps into my court, regardless of why they are there and where they are coming from. I’m committed to walking in humility rather than leading with ego or entitlement. My husband often reminds our church that if serving is below you, then leading is beyond you. I try to embody those words daily.
I’m also committed to integrity. Anyone can use that word, but it’s tough to do the right thing when it’s the most difficult choice. It’s tough to do the right thing when the rewards are in a different direction. It’s tough to do the right thing when it hurts you rather than helping you. My commitment to embodying these values makes the way I do this work unique.
Kurt Mills, a former supervisor for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, had a quote on his whiteboard. “Always tell the truth. Always do the right thing, no matter what.” This was how we conducted our work in that unit.
On more than one occasion, I made unpopular reports to maintain the integrity of the Grand Juries that were hearing cases to determine probable cause. I took my role very seriously then and my commitment to integrity has been a part of every role I’ve had as an attorney and now as a judge. After my appointment, I swore my oath to 1) follow the Constitution and the laws of the State of Arizona, and 2) maintain the integrity and independence of the bench.
Many people talk about integrity. But, it’s far easier to talk about than it is to embody. I’ve remained committed to doing the right thing even when others were out to cover themselves and their friends at the cost of doing the right thing. I continue to refuse to compromise my values to make life easier.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice? Fill the space you are in. Don’t live in fear. Lean into your fear. Do the thing that you are afraid to do. Do not make yourself small for anyone. This is what I wish I had known when I went to college. Coming from a small town it was intimidating to be in a city and around so many people. I didn’t have anyone to tell me it was okay to be who I am and flaunt what I am capable of.
During my investiture speech I quoted a monologue from the movie “Coach Carter.” I saw the clip one day and went back to re-watch the movie. The quote, ultimately, is from a book, but the portrayal by the actor, Rick Gonzalez, in the movie is powerful. Here is what it says:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
I was made for this work. Even after my loss in the election, I believe that with all that I am. I’m excited to continue to serve my community and make a difference in every way possible. I am hopeful that I can inspire others to do the same. Fill that room. Face that fear. Be the person you were created to be. You are enough.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://SavageForJudge.com
- Instagram: danalyn_savage
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/SavageForJudge
- Youtube: @SavageForJudge
Image Credits
Main Photo, photo of my tattoos, and the photos with the blue and purple suit jackets are all by Cristina, owner of Sedona Bella Portrait.
Photo of my husband and myself at an event for my campaign.
Photo of my husband and myself before seeing Hamilton in Phoenix, AZ.
Photo of my daughter and myself after she placed 10th in a cross country race and had a PR. Proud mama and proud coach.
