Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On Feb. 21 the Curry County Commission is expected to address a plan of action with regard to selecting a successor for the late County Clerk Jo Lynn Queener.
CLOVIS — During its Jan. 21 meeting, the Curry County Commission plans to start the process of appointing a county clerk for the next two years.
Deputy Clerk Annie Hogland has fulfilled the position after Jo Lynn Queener died last month. Queener won the Republican primary last year, faced no general election opposition and took office Jan. 1.
"With all due respect to the loss of our county clerk, I think we need to move forward with finding someone to fill in this position," said Curry County Commissioner Angelina Baca during Tuesday's regular meeting. "I would like to see something on the agenda regarding the process to move in that direction."
County Attorney Steve Doerr asked for guidance, noting statutes have no prescribed methods for vetting candidates.
"All the statue says," Doerr said, "is if there is a vacancy in any county office, other than the county commission itself, it is filled by appointment of the county commission."
Baca offered the following:
"I think one of the questions I had was whether you look at the candidates that actually ran in the race, first of all," she said. "Secondly, if that does not apply, what's the application process like? I think that's open for discussion."
Commission Chairman Ben McDaniel said there were varied options at the commission's disposal.
"We can kind of do it different ways, from what I understand," McDaniel said. "We can try to select someone as a group or ask for letters of interest. There are different ways to do it."
Commissioner Chet Spear recommended the matter be placed on the commission's next meeting agenda for planning and discussion of how to proceed in the selection process.
