WALKER LEAVING CLERK OF COURT POSITION
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 -- 11:44 AM
Clark County will have a new Clerk of Court.Clark County Circuit Court Judge Jon Counsell announced Tuesday that current Chief Deputy Clerk of Courts Heather Bravener of Loyal will serve out the remainder of Gail Walker?s term.
Walker is retiring effective September 2.
Walker was first elected to the post 8 ? years ago. She was reelected to one two-year term, and two more four year terms.
Walker oversaw the department during a time of immense technological changes.
"When I started, traffic tickets needed to be entered by hand, and the disposition had to be written on the back and sent down to Madison. That would take, usually, weeks," Walker explains. "Now, the tickets come in electronically, they go into court, she closes them in court and we're done."
Those technological changes, and other factors, allowed the office staff to be reduced from nine to seven.
Walker says she enjoyed her job, but there were things she didn?t love?for instance, running for office every few years.
"The first time, I enjoyed it. It was fun," Walker remembers, "but then, when you have competition, it gets harder. You feel the pressure and stress of 'am I going to have a job?'"
"It's pretty stressful. It really wasn't my favorite thing, no."
Walker, who has been battling cancer for four years, is leaving the post because of health concerns.
"It seems to be getting a little tougher to go in and do the job. I don't think I can do the job to the expectations that are involved in it," she says. "I just want to retire and enjoy life and spend it with my family and do what I want to do."
Walker says she?s leaving the office in very capable hands.
Heather Bravener was hired by Walker?s predecessor, Steve Hemmersbach, back in 2000.
"I'm excited for the opportunity. I think it will be a pretty seemless transition for the office staff and the public," Bravener says.
While she?s excited about the opportunity, she says it?s a ?little scary? to have to seek reelection to keep her job in three years.
"Hopefully I can serve the people well for three years. It is a little scary. The job-security won't be there," she says, "but, I think I'm up for the challenge."
Clerk of Courts is a partisan position. Bravener says she hasn?t given any thought to party affiliation and isn?t currently a member of a party.
The position will be up for reelection in November 2014.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.