Former deputy clerk accuses county staff of political discrimination, urges legal review

Tracy Venable, who said she was hired as first deputy clerk on Aug. 18, 2025, told the Perry County Council she was terminated without cause on March 14, 2026 after filing to run for county clerk on the Republican ticket on Jan. 6. "I lost my position. I lost my livelihood for my daughter and I, but I did not lose my voice," Venable said during public comments.

Venable said her work received positive review at 90 days but that, after she filed to run, supervision and training became limited, she was excluded from communications and her requests for more responsibility were denied. She said Joan Hess, the acting clerk referenced in her remarks, once told her the only reason she had been hired was "because no one else wanted the job," a remark Venable said was delivered in front of coworkers.

The former deputy clerk also described filing a public records request and raising questions about comp-time practices. She told the council she is pursuing legal counsel for political discrimination, retaliation for whistleblowing and wrongful termination and urged the council to seek legal guidance before filling the vacancy left by her departure.

The council responded procedurally: Joan Hess asked the council to table any action to fill the post pending legal advice from the council attorney. Brad moved to table the request per the attorney's recommendation; Gail seconded and the motion to table carried by voice vote.

The next procedural step announced at the meeting was that the council attorney would be consulted before any advertising or hiring for the deputy clerk position. Venable said she remains on the ballot for county clerk.