FORT SCOTT, Kan. - The Bourbon County Republican Party selected Annie Clarkson as the county’s next clerk during a meeting Tuesday night by a vote of 39-2, filling the vacancy left by Susan Walker’s resignation last month.
Annie was chosen from a field of four candidates: Annie Clarkson, Lisa Dillon, Michael Hoyt and Rob Hodgkinson. The selection will now be forwarded to Gov. Laura Kelly for final approval before Annie is sworn in.
Walker announced her resignation Aug. 10 amid a recall effort tied to errors in the office’s handling of elections. Her last day was Aug. 31. Deputy Clerk Michael Hoyt has overseen the office’s daily operations since her notice of resignation on August 10th.
Clarkson has worked at the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office for a decade and has lived in the county for 40 years. At Tuesday’s candidate forum, she said rebuilding the office’s credibility is her first priority. “There isn’t scrutiny if you don’t create it,” Clarkson said, adding she intends to “stay in my lane” and work with commissioners as a team. Asked about the long hours the job demands, she said she’s ready to put in “eighty hours a week” or more “to build its trust back and have integrity.”
This is a developing story. The Monitor will follow up with a full profile of Annie, including her plans for the office and reaction from the community, in the coming days.
