Editor:

On Jan. 22, Prince Edward County Circuit Court Clerk Machelle Eppes announced that she will be retiring from her position on April 1. She has done an excellent job serving as clerk, and her successor will have a tough challenge ahead of them. To her credit Machelle has done a fine job keeping politics out of the clerk’s office and has dedicated her time and energy to serving all citizens of Prince Edward County. Deputy Clerk Lynette Coe will be filling Eppes’ position until an election is held. The board of supervisors could authorize a special election to fill the position, but I feel that due to the cost of holding such an election, they will wait until November.

The position is open to anyone. There is no prerequisite coursework or job experience needed in order to apply. An applicant seeking the office must be a registered voter and must also file the necessary paperwork with the Prince Edward County Voter Registrar. Applicants must then garner the necessary votes during an election to serve as clerk of the court. The playing field is seemingly level for all citizens who might be interested in seeking the Office of Clerk in Prince Edward County. I encourage citizens who feel that they can perform the duties related to the position to apply. Citizens should avail themselves of this opportunity to serve in public office. I have always believed in an open and transparent form of government at all levels. It is very important that anyone who is interested in being elected to the position of Circuit Court Clerk contact the Prince Edward County Voter Registrar’s Office to get the proper documents on file. Let’s get the ball rolling. But let’s not be too hasty in making a decision on who we want to have as our new clerk. I will not make a public endorsement until later and encourage others to wait until all candidates have been announced. By holding off making endorsements too early, we afford all candidates the opportunity to communicate why they believe that they are the best person for this job. Also, by being prudent we allow any late-comer to the race the same opportunity to come to the forefront as an early filer.

It is a high-paying job with a high profile in the community. We need to elect the right person with high standards to fill this upcoming vacancy.

Carl U. Eggleston

Farmville