County Clerks Association installs new officers

Pictured (from left) are Columbia County Clerk Sherry Bell, outgoing president and member of Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) Board and AAC Legislative Committee; Boone County Clerk Crystal Graddy, secretary; Little River County Clerk Deanna Sivley, treasurer; Drew County Clerk Lyna Gulledge, second vice president; Polk County Clerk Terri Harrison, first vice president; Madison County Clerk Faron Ledbetter, AAC Board and AAC Legislative Committee member; Clark County Clerk Rhonda Cole, president; and State Auditor Charlie Daniels.

Daniels installs new officers for County Clerks Association Oct. 10

HOT SPRINGS — The Association of Arkansas County Clerks installed a new slate of officers for 2012-13 at the association’s fall meeting in Hot Springs on Oct. 10. State Au“ I have had the privilege of working ditor Charlie Daniels addressed the group and administered oaths to the newly-elected officers. closely with the county clerks County clerks are elected every two years and for many years and this association perform various duties related to probate, quo- does a great job servingrum and county courts. County clerks also oversee voter registration and absentee voting and their constituents and the state of are responsible for recording and issuing licenses Arkansas. and other records for the county.

The association hosts regular continuing edu— Charlie Daniels, State Auditor

cation meetings to conduct business and receive ”information and training about the duties of their office. Daniels, whose office helps coordinate continuing education meetings for the county clerks and other county government associations, offered praise for the association and its leadership. “I have had the privilege of working closely with the county clerks for many years and this association does a great job serving their constituents and the state of Arkansas,” Daniels said. Newly elected officers for the association will serve two-year terms.

On the Web:

State Auditor, www.auditor.ar.gov; AAC, www.arcounties.org. Sherry Bell (left), outgoing president of the Arkansas County Clerks Association, and Rhonda Cole, incoming president.

Q&A with county clerks new president Rhonda Cole

Q: What office do you hold and how did

you get here?

I started working in Clark County government March 1, 1990, in the county clerk’s office. On Jan. 1, 1995, I went to work for the county judge as his administrative assistant. I became county clerk on Jan. 1, 1999. I was appointed by Gov. Mike Beebe in 2011 to be on the State Board of Election Commissioners for a two-year term. My term as the county clerks’ first vice president, along with the chair of the legislative committee, ended in 2011. I became the president of the County Clerks Association on Jan. 1, 2012.

Q: What county were you born in?

I have lived in Arkadelphia, Clark County, all of my life.

Q: Why did you get started in county government?

To be honest, one day while I was out looking for a job, I went by the county clerk’s office to pick up my friend for lunch. While there, the county clerk at the time asked me if I would like to fill out an application for the accounts payable job that was open. And as you know, I got the job. To this day I still love walking into the courthouse to do my job.

Q: What do you like the most about your county and state?

What I like most about Clark County is the people. We do have one of those counties where everyone is connected in some way. We are there to help anyone in need. The state of Arkansas is gorgeous. There is something different to do with every season.