Hopkins To See Clerk Changeover Just Before Election

Hopkins officials are working swiftly to hire a new city clerk before this year's election.

City Clerk Terry Obermaier told the city in July that she’d be retiring Oct. 31—a little more than a week before the Nov. 8 election. Hopkins launched the search for a new clerk in the third week of August, Assistant City Manager Jim Genellie said.

The clerk is one of . He or she oversees elections—as well as updates city code, reviews and issues business licenses, keeps track of city records and serves as the city’s purchasing officer.

City Manager Mike Mornson expects the transition to go smoothly despite the election’s imminence. He noted that Deputy City Clerk Debbie Sperling has substantial election experience, as do the election judges.

The changeover also comes during one of the smaller, odd-year elections instead of during a presidential election, when voter turnout would be higher, Mornson added.

So far, about 35 people have applied for the position. Election experience will be a key attribute that  the city seeks from candidates, and a city clerk or two from other communities may sit in on the interview panels to fish out exactly how much experience the candidates have.

“I think the training of these clerks by the Secretary of State’s Office is so well done that it’s not an issue,” Mornson said.

Mornson expects the city to make an offer by Sept. 19 or 20 and have the new clerk start by Oct. 20 or 27, allowing a couple weeks to adjust to the new job.