Mary King won the three-person Republican caucus for the vacant County Council position Saturday morning at Old Stoney on the first ballot defeating both Brandt Fuller and Scott Highlander.
King will take over for Clark Beard, who is retiring at the end of the year and moving out of the area after seven years on the Council. Beard had been on the Council for seven years.
King has been the Clerk Treasurer for the Town of Kirklin for 32 years and a year-and-a-half as deputy. She is retiring as the Clerk Treasurer December 31, and assumes her County Councilman position January 1.
“I was actually approached by someone about the open position,” said King. “It made me realize how much the clerk-treasurer position aligned exactly with what the Clinton County Council does. I know it’s going to be on a much larger scale but I felt like I have the ability and I can bring some experience to the table.”
Republican Party Chairman Jim Moyer said 26 individuals voted in the caucus which means the winner had to have 14 or more votes.
Moyer also said King will finish out the remainder of Beard’s contract which is for one year. Then next year, she can apply for a four-year term.
King has been attending County Council meetings recently.
“To me, the council meetings are run very professionally,” said King. “I feel like council members are doing their homework as I plan to do research on whatever is coming up so I can make an informed vote.”