Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Farmington Mayor, City Clerk Tie The Knot
FARMINGTON — Farmington Mayor Ernie Penn and City Clerk Kelly Thomas sit next to each other during City Council meetings, one presiding over the meeting and the other taking minutes. At Monday's meeting, the two elected officials sat next to each other as husband and wife.
The couple married Saturday during a ceremony in Eureka Springs. Thomas took Penn's name and legally, her name now is Kelly Penn.
The ceremony was “short, sweet and very nice,” Ernie Penn told several council members before the meeting.
After the meeting, Kelly Penn said they had been assured by officials with the Arkansas Municipal League that their marriage would not be a conflict of interest because of the division of duties for the two positions.
The city clerk records minutes of all city council meetings, signs contracts, files ordinances and gives out the financial report each month to the aldermen. The position does not have a vote on the city council.
As mayor, Penn presides over all city council meetings and basically is the chief executive officer of the city. He oversees the day to day operations of the city and is responsible for the operation of the city.
In Farmington, city Financial Director Jimmy Story is responsible for the finances of the city and issuing checks. The mayor or city clerk positions do not issue checks for the city of Farmington and the positions do not have overlapping duties.
Kelly Penn said she had been prepared to resign her position when the two became engaged and struggled with the decision on whether to resign mid-term. She said she approached several aldermen to ask their opinions about it and received support for the marriage.
“If one member had said, ‘I have a problem with it,’ I would have resigned,” Kelly Penn said, adding she finally decided not to resign because of the extra costs involved for a special election to fill the vacancy and because this is an election year for all city council positions.
She said she wanted to be available to assist any persons running for city council office.
Even then, she said she will not run for re-election in 2014 and will be glad to talk to any citizens interested in learning about the city clerk position.
“The first thing we want to do is to protect the citizens and our city,” Ernie Penn said. “When you’re a public official, you're under a microscope or living in a glass dome.”
His wife added that they want to make sure there is not an air of impropriety and at the same time, she said she does not want to detract from the job Penn has done as mayor.
“I think he’s done a great job as mayor and I wouldn't want to open that up for small-town nitpicking,” she said.
City council members Terry Yopp and Brenda Cunningham on Monday said they do not see a problem with the two elected officials being married.
“There are no issues whatsoever,” said Yopp, who also serves as vice mayor. “Both remain professionals and do their jobs. There's not a conflict of interest. We're happy and proud for both of them.”
Cunningham, whose husband is Farmington Fire Chief Mark Cunningham, said, “I've expected it for a long time. I think she does a good job and will continue to do so. I don't have a problem with it.”
Penn has served in an elected office for the city of Farmington for a total of 14 years. He's in his third term as mayor and said he plans to seek re-election in 2014. He works full-time for Arvest Bank.
Kelly Penn served as an alderman before she ran for the city clerk position. She is in her second four-year term as city clerk. She works fulltime for Stephens Inc.