Proposed Constitution Removes 5 Elected County Offices

Five long-standing Clay County elected offices will become appointed positions if voters pass the newly proposed Clay County Constitution on the November 3 ballot.

By eliminating these positions, we will be giving more power to the un-elected administration - Jason Withington

The Clerk, Collector, Treasurer, Public Administrator and Recorder of Deeds would no longer be elected by Clay County voters. Those positions would instead be hired by the proposed, expanded, 7-member County Commission, effectively removing independent, citizen oversight of those positions.

Moreover, the language in Article V, Section 5.01, of the proposed constitution is not on the printed ballot from which voters will make their decision on November 3.

Article V, Section 5.01, states: The offices of County Clerk, Treasurer, Collector, Recorder of Deeds and Public Administrator shall no longer be elected.

Jason Withington, a long-time proponent for change in Clay County, says this may not be the charter Clay County citizens have desired. “I have some serious concerns about eliminating the elected officials, and those concerns are why I can’t support this document. These elected offices provide an independent check on the county finances and operations. By eliminating these positions, we will be giving more power to the un-elected administration. It’s the un-elected administration who, along with Gene and Luann, that have caused the problems in our county.”

Lydia McEvoy, a recent guest on Kearney Live and candidate for Clay County Western Commissioner, shared her thoughts on the issue: “The big concern about consolidating the offices is oversight. You don’t want the same person who writes the check being the one who purchased the item in the first place, and the one who negotiated the price, and the one who audits the books. You want those things separate for good reason. I cannot imagine what this (current) commission would have gotten away with over the last 5 or 6 years if (these positions) were all consolidated in appointed departments.”

It is recommended voters familiarize themselves with the language in the proposed constitution before voting on November 3. A full copy of the 15-page Clay County Constitution is available on the KPGZ news page. For further information on this story, read: New Clay County Constitution Added to November Ballot on the KPGZ news page or watch the October 1, 2020 KPGZ Weekly News Recap.

KPGZ News – Mike Davis contributed to this story