Circuit clerk surprises with retirement
In a surprise announcement on Wednesday, Circuit Court Clerk Lafayette Woods Sr. announced that he will retire from the position he has held for 12 years effective Oct. 1.
In a letter to the Quorum Court dated Wednesday, Woods apologized for the abrupt timing, saying that his retirement was prompted by “unforeseen circumstances” and gave his reason for the announcement “to focus more on my personal health and my family.”
Woods recommended Barbara Collins, who has worked in the circuit clerk’s office since 2010, to be appointed as his replacement to fill the two years and three months that will be left on his term.
“Mrs. Collins has the immediate skillset that I believe is needed [to] serve,” he said in the letter. “Moreover, Mrs.
Collins has the ability to deal effectively with people, good organizational skills, and physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.”
County Judge Gerald Robinson said that Collins would be a good choice to fulfill the unexpired portion of Woods’ term.
“I have no issue with Mrs. Barbara,” Robinson said. “She is very knowledgeable, a very dedicated person. I’ve never even seen her even miss a day of work.”
Although Woods, 64, did not elaborate on his stated reasons for retiring, his son, Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr., told the Pine Bluff Commercial that his father had been facing some health issues over the past couple of months.
“After consulting with family and doctors he felt like this was the right thing to do,” Woods Jr. said.
Woods Sr. was elected to the circuit clerk’s office, his first elective office, in 2008. He said
he ran for the office initially because he felt like there were problems in the running of the circuit clerk’s office that he could rectify.
“I had served my country and I wanted to serve my county, ” Woods Sr. said. “I think I’m leaving the office better than I found it, no doubt about it. And the people I’ve talked with, they think so, also.”
He said his recommendation of Collins to fulfill the unexpired portion of his term is intended to pave the way for his chief deputy clerk, Flora Cook-Bishop, to run for the office in 2022.
Bishop, who has worked in the circuit clerk’s office since 1988, has twice been appointed to serve out the terms of former circuit clerks after vacancies
were declared. Woods Sr. placed Bishop in the chief deputy position when he took office in 2008. He said he recommended Collins because he wants to keep the circuit clerk’s office running smoothing while ensuring that Bishop would be able to seek the office herself.
“If you are appointed you cannot run, you understand what I’m saying,” he said.
By law, a person appointed to fulfill a vacant or unexpired term of an elected county official cannot be appointed or elected to succeed himself, which would make Bishop ineligible were she to be named to fill Woods’ unexpired term.
“I know I’m leaving the office in good hands,” Woods Sr. said. “I have no doubt, no reservations in other words if the Quorum Court appoints the
recommendation that I’ve made. And I have great confidence in Mrs. Bishop. She’s been there since 1988 and she has vast knowledge of the workings of that office.”
The circuit clerk’s office has 10 employees, including the circuit clerk.
Woods Sr. said his retirement plans include some travel.
“I bought an RV and I want to see the country, travel around a bit,” he said. “I want to visit some grandchildren and I want to do some more things.”
Justice of the Peace Ted Harden was caught by surprise by the announcement, saying he had not received word of the announcement Wednesday afternoon.
“When did he announce this?” he asked. “I did not know that. But you want to retire before it’s too late to enjoy it. I was in banking
for 35 years and I haven’t missed it.”
He said he approved of Woods’ recommendation of Collins. And he said that Bishop, should she run for the position in two years, would be a worthy successor as well.
“Well, that would be a good thing to consider,” Harden said of Collins. “And Flora’s got the background. She’s been there forever.”
Robinson said because the next Quorum Court meeting is scheduled for Oct. 12, he is not likely to call a special meeting to fill the vacancy.
“I’m not going to call a special meeting since we’ve got Quorum Court coming up in the next couple of weeks,” he said. We’ll deal with that in the next Quorum Court meeting in October. I’ll go ahead and put it on the agenda now.”