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ELKINS – Longtime Randolph County Clerk Brenda Wiseman has announced that she will be retiring from her position effective on Sept. 1.
Wiseman, who has held the title of county clerk for the past 20 years, plans to spend more time doing the things she loves after she officially calls it quits.
“I’m at the age where I can draw my full retirement, so after 35 years and five months here, I’m going to do it,” Wiseman said. “I plan on spending more time with my family and maybe do a little traveling. I just don’t want to work until I’m 80.”
Wiseman started her career in the Randolph County Clerk’s Office as a deputy clerk at the age of 19 in March 1991. She held that position until she was elected as county clerk in 2006.
“I’m definitely going to miss it, especially all of the people who work with me in my office, because they are like family,” Wiseman said. “And I’m also going to miss talking to all the people who come into the office. But I’m sure I will be stopping back into the office to see everybody from time-to-time.”
Despite there being so much work for a county clerk to do come election time, Wiseman said she will miss some of the things that come with running an election.
“The elections are very stressful and it is a hectic time here during election time,” Wiseman said. “But I’m still going to miss it, especially working with the pole workers. But it definitely won’t be as stressful on me and I’m glad of that.”
Wiseman said the staff she has in place will be able to handle the General Election in November, noting it will be business as usual when it comes to the public’s needs from her office.
“The girls here will be fine, I think they can handle anything,” Wiseman said. “If anyone needs anything after I’m gone, they can reach out to Karla Mahanes or anyone else in the office and they will be taken care of.”
Randolph County Commission President David Kesling said Wiseman will be missed.
“She’s put in 35 years of dedicated service to the county, and although I hate to see her go, I’m happy for her,” Kesling said. “She’s been instrumental to the county commission during my time as commissioner, and everything I’ve ever needed, she’s been there for me. She is a wonderful person and she is definitely going to be missed.”
Kesling said the county commission will appoint someone to fill Wiseman’s position.
“Since it is past the deadline for someone to file for the position in the November election, we have 30 days after the day she retired to find someone for her replacement,” Kesling said. “Since Brenda was a Democrat, her replacement has to be one as well. But we definitely have to get someone in there because the county can’t go without a clerk.”