Supes appoint another election commissioner for 2023

The Clay County Board of Supervisors has once again appointed an election commissioner for the 2023 elections.

During the regular meeting of the Clay County Board of Supervisors on Monday, February 6, the board discussed the appointment of an election commissioner for District 4 after the resignation of former commissioner Sawana Walker Bean.

“I just talked to the Secretary of State's office… and there will not be a special election set this year for that spot. There will just be someone appointed because the term doesn't actually begin until next year,” said Clay County Circuit Clerk Kim Hood. “So we will be appointing somebody until the end of the year. Then next year in January of 2024, we'll have to appoint the same person or somebody new, and then have a special election in November of 2024.”

The Board of Supervisors had to appoint a new election commissioner for District 4 in response to the resignation of Sawana Walker Bean. Bean has been serving as the election commissioner of District 4 since her appointment in 2013, but announced her resignation to run for Clay County Circuit Clerk against Hood in 2023.

During their meeting this past Monday, the Board of Supervisors accepted Bean's resignation as qualifying candidate for election commissioner for District 4. However, this left the seat of election commissioner open for 2023. The board immediately responded with a resolution to fill the vacant position.

“The resolution that Ms. Ford and I had prepared yesterday while talking and speaking with Supervisor [Shelton] Deanes yesterday included appointing Ms. Sonya Calvert to fill the unexpired term of the election commissioner for this year,” said Clay County Chancery Clerk Amy Berry.

Berry and Board Attorney Angela Ford presented this resolution to the board. However, the pair had anticipated that a special election would be set for 2023 to fill the position.

“But you're saying that Ms. Calvert would serve through the end of this year, and the special election will be in 2024?” Berry asked.

Hood responded in the affirmative. Based on the information given to her by the Secretary of State, the Board of Supervisors will be responsible for appointing an election commissioner for District 4 in 2023 and in 2024.

Having received this information, the Board of Supervisors responded quickly. On Monday, they appointed Ms.

Sonya Calvert to the position for 2023 with a motion from Supervisor Luke Lummus and a second from Supervisor Shelton Deanes.

This is the second time this year that the Clay County Board of Supervisors has appointed an election commissioner for 2023. Earlier this year, a new election commissioner for District 3 had to be appointed, as former commissioner George Hubert Caston passed away unexpectedly on December 31, 2022. The Board of Supervisors selected Vendella Edwards as the interim election commissioner for District 3, until a special election can be held to fill the position on November 7 of this year.

Also during their regular meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved the Road Bond Agreements in the amount of $25,000 each between Clay County District 2 and Silver Leaf Construction LLC on Clisby Road and Pinkerton Road. These bonds will help to protect the county from the cost of road repairs in the future.

“It's very important that we get our roads taken care of and these bonds put in place,” said Luke Lummus of District 2. “The cost of repair has become unreal. It's almost four times what it used to be. So I'm glad that we can do this… so people can see it when they come to visit.”

The next regular meeting of the Clay County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for Thursday, February 9 at 9 a.m. in the Clay County Courthouse.