Kathy Brack speaks briefly at a gathering in her honor today as she prepares to retire, backed up by her Chief Deputy Clerk Lisa Conzatti.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – As many as eight individuals have expressed interest in being appointed Lewis County clerk, as the elected official holding the position is retiring before her four-year term ends.
Kathy Brack’s last day is tomorrow. Her chief deputy clerk Lisa Conzatti will take over as interim county clerk.
Brack spoke at a farewell gathering held in her honor today, at the Historic Lewis County Courthouse.
The 65-year-old Toledo resident has been under treatment for cancer, and made good on a promise to her spouse.
“I told my husband if my last doctor’s appointment came clean, then I would retire,” Brack said.
The Lewis County clerk serves as the official record keeper for the Lewis County Superior Court. The office on the second floor of the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis has 15 employees.
Brack’s retirement brings to an end 44 years of public service. She was the Lewis County District Court administrator beginning in 1972 and then in 1986 took over the same position in Cowlitz County District Court.
In 2002, the Republican ran against the incumbent Lewis County clerk, and won, running unopposed three times since then.
Because her term hasn’t ended, the Lewis County Board of Commissioners will select a replacement, who will have to run for the office in a November 2017 special election if they want to continue. And then run again in November 2018 for a normal four-year term.
The commissioners will have a slate of three candidates to choose from, names given to them by the Lewis County Republican party, since the outgoing clerk is a Republican.
Local party Chairman Mark Anders said today he’s got six people on his list who have expressed interest and he’s happy to share information about the steps to being considered to anyone who is interested.
“This is a political process, it’s a partisan position,” Anders said. “One thing the precinct committee officers will be looking at, is we want to elect someone, get someone appointed, that could win that seat and hold that seat as a Republican.
“It’s not just this is the best, most qualified person for the job, though we want that too.”
Anders said there are 45 to 50 precinct committee officers who will come together on a Saturday not yet selected in October to make nominations, hear from the nominees and choose three potential appointees.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
She didn’t even get a gold watch all she got was a cheap photo copy of an award and a Wal Mart Picture frame. It’s about time the Citizens run these tax Feeders out of town
Drink the city water get cancer, you public officials all deserve cancer for dumping toxins in the water.
Saying that the position will be filled according to political strategy is a deflection to avoid discussing the hiring of a family member.
Anyone can see that it’s all about nepotism and hiring someone who will keep their mouth shut about all the illegal dealings and scandals that go on inside and outside the court building.
You see, anybody can claim to be a Republican, but only the very few have the honor of being related to, either through marriage or blood, to a previous or current LC employee or servant.
Do you really think they would hire just any Republican off the street?
The nepotistic career county moochers can’t risk hiring someone with a conscious or someone with an unwillingness to turn a blind eye to corruption.
It’s also easy to retaliate against a new hire if it’s someone they have easy access to either through marriage or blood.
So let them tell us that it’s a “political decision” as if family and blood relations has nothing to do with it. The people of Lewis County are not stupid, well many of them aren’t.
It would be nice if some of our judges would step down too, they have been in too long. I wouldn’t mind if they played by rules and followed the law themselves
Not all Lewis County Republican Precinct Committee Officers think that the most overarching theme is to choose someone who is electable. I for one think the most qualified, most experienced, best communicator and best educated should be chosen, politics be damned. A few years ago, LC kept electing a Republican Coroner, in fact for 20 years. How did that work out for LC? Choose the best person, regardless of how long they claim they have been a Republican.
Yes, the County Clerk and all other Government posistions need to be filled with Republicans. The amazing run of high unemployment, poverty, underperforming schools, low property values and crumbling streets must continue. The only way to ensure that is to continue the lifelong stranglehold on county government that the Republicans have had for my entire life here. Oh, I forgot to make a reference to Reagan.
Did you know that Fluoride causes cancer? Killed by the shills that dump poison in the water. Enjoy that crisp fresh industrial waste from the Fluoride that’s killing everyone drinking the water you deserve the cancer for letting the city continue its deadly Fluoride program. Do the research folks it’s our city government responsible for cancers from Fluoride.
Mrs. Brack is a sweet lady. I’ve talked to her a few times over the years when I would come in to pay fines or ask a question… She’s one of the few people in the courthouse that treated me like a normal person and not a criminal while I was there. Enjoy your retirement!