Seibel elected as new county clerk

    Sharon Seibel was elected as the new Ford County clerk Tuesday with an unofficial vote of 737 to 449.
    As the winner of Tuesday's primary election, Seibel will fill the county clerk position without a general election in November because she and her opponent, Karen Jo Blankman, are both Republicans. No Democrats entered the race.
    As the county clerk, Seibel will also be the county election official and the secretary of the Ford County Commission.
    Seibel attributed her win to hard work and meeting voters in the county.
    "I have a good group of people working with me and we worked hard," Seibel said.
    Seibel said her campaign was about "getting out, knocking on doors, meeting people and being visible."
     Blankman, the administrative assistant for the current county clerk, Vicki Wells, said she congratulated Seibel on her win Tuesday night. The two candidates have been working together since 2001 in the clerk's office.
    Blankman said low voter turnout this year and in the past could have contributed to the outcome of the primary election.
    "I'm a little disappointed not many people came out to vote," she said.
    Only 1,186 of the approximately 15,000 registered voters cast a ballot in the race for the clerk's office. Total voter turnout for all offices was slightly more than 10 percent, according to the clerk's office.
    As for now, Blankman will continue to focus on her current job.
    "I'm going to get up and go to work tomorrow and see what happens," she said.
    The clerk's responsibilities include assisting with the county's budget and levy preparation, setting mill levies for all taxing districts, certifying tax rolls for collection and conducting elections. 
    The clerk's office also issues various licenses and permits and is the official  custodian for documents such as birth certificates, death certificates and marriage licenses. 
    Seibel said her previous experience as the Wallace County clerk for three terms and as Ford County's deputy election officer since 2001 has made her familiar with all aspects of the office and has given her the knowledge to fulfill her duties as the new county clerk. 
    In January 2009, Seibel will replace current Wells, who plans to retire after her second four-year term ends. In the meantime, Seibel will fulfill her duties as deputy election officer.
    "I want to focus on doing a good job," she said.
   
Reach Cherise Forno at (620) 408-9931 or e-mail her at cherise.forno@dodgeglobe.com.