Randolph County Commission appoints interim county clerk

ELKINS – The Randolph County Commission have unanimously approved an interim county clerk to fill the position after Brenda Wiseman’s retirement.   

In early August, Wiseman announced that she was retiring after serving as county clerk for the past 20 years. Wiseman had served in the Randolph County Clerk’s Office for the past 35 years.     

Commissioners David Kesling, Cris Siler and Kenna Barger approved Karla Mahanes to fill the role during the most recent Randolph County Commission meetin.     

“Brenda recently retired and she made us fully aware of that about a month or so ago,” Kesling said. “With this we will be looking for a replacement for her. The only stipulation per state code is that it has to be a Democrat, where she was a Democrat. Unlike with us (county commissioners), where the person has to be from the same party and the same district. So in this case they just have to be a Democrat.”   

Wiseman said the county commission loved Wiseman and will miss her, but business goes on and that they need a county clerk.   

“In the state code, the county commission can put someone in place for 30 days while we look for a permanent replacement,” Kesling said. “So we are announcing today that we are going to have Karla be that appointment for 30 days while we find someone.”   

Kesling said Wiseman’s permanent replacement will be announced at the Oct. 1 commission meeting.   

“We are giving anyone who is a Democrat, and interested, the opportunity to fill the county clerk’s seat,” said Kesling. “Anyone who is interested will have until the 18th (of September) to get something in to us. That will give us a week to do interviews before the October 1 meeting.”     

Kesling said that those interested in the County Clerk position can reach out to the Randolph County Commission Office or send in a resume.     

“By the 18th (September) we will close that and then we will interview anyone who is interested,” Kesling said. “We will then announce the permanent replacement on October 1.”     

The permanent replacement will serve the unexpired term that was remaining for Wiseman. That term will run until Jan. 1 of 2028.     

“We are happy to have Karla (Mahanes) in as the interim county clerk,” said Siler. “She had done this job for a while and she has always filled in for Brenda when needed. She has been in the County Clerk’s Office for over 20 years and I think she is up for the task.”     

The Randolph County Commission and other county employees recently gathered at the Commission Annex for a retirement party for Wiseman, who said she plans to spend more time doing the things she loves during her retirement.     

To contact the Randolph County Commission, call 304-636-2057.