BUCKHANNON — An experienced Upshur County deputy clerk was officially appointed Thursday to the county clerk position, after the recent, unexpected death of Debbie Thacker Wilfong.

Upshur County Commission members voted to appoint Carol Smith to the clerk seat during their regular meeting Thursday morning. Smith had been placed in the temporary county clerk position after longtime county clerk Wilfong passed away Dec. 22.

Smith thanked the Commissioners for their confidence in her work and her ability to lead the office, despite the sad circumstances.

“She was a wonderful lady,” Smith said of Wilfong, who served as county clerk for 43 years.

As she steps into her leadership role, Smith said she doesn’t plan to fill her former deputy position at this time. For now, she intends to redistribute the workload among existing staff.

She noted in a phone interview Thursday that the Upshur County Clerk’s office already had plans to get a new records indexing system on Feb. 1, and that will go forward as scheduled.

“I’m hoping, obviously, for a smooth transition,” she said of her position, the office and its daily operations. “I’ll absolutely do the best that I can do.”

Commissioner Sam Nolte said Thursday that Smith is a good choice for the county clerk role, noting her 18 years of experience in the office.

“I think she’ll do a terrific job,” Nolte said in a phone interview Thursday afternoon.

The regular commission meeting Thursday morning kicked off the beginning of Nolte’s six-year term.

Nolte joins Commission President Terry Cutright and Commissioner Troy A. Brady III.

As a local businessman and a new member of the County Commission, Nolte said he is optimistic about the county’s future. He said he’d like to help the Commission work with other government officials to promote job growth in the region.

“I hope we can keep the jobs we have, and try to attract new industry,” Nolte said.

He was elected to the seat left by Commissioner JC Raffety, who chose not to run for re-election.

The next regular County Commission meeting is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 12 in the Commission meeting room at the Upshur County Courthouse Annex.