Union County clerk announces resignation, recommends Stephanie Cox and requests special meeting to appoint successor

The county clerk announced at the meeting that he will step down from his position following the upcoming election and recommended Stephanie Cox as his preferred replacement. He asked commissioners to schedule a special meeting for appointment and offered a shadowing period to help with the transition.

"I will be stepping down as county clerk, taking a new job," the clerk said, describing the personal decision and stressing that he planned to remain through the election to ensure continuity. He said he had sent the required notices to both parties and recommended Stephanie Cox to fill his post, noting her background in the community and at the bank.

The clerk asked the board to hold a special meeting on Monday the 17th at 10 a.m. to make an appointment to fulfill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. He said his last day would be in April, after the election, and offered to have Cox shadow him at the office for about a week and a half before he leaves to aid the transition.

Commissioners agreed to schedule the special meeting. No formal appointment took place at the session; the clerk said he would assist with a smooth handoff and emphasized that the decision to appoint rests with the board.