July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Four candidates for clerk (8/1/05)

One will be chosen as Blackford's replacement

By By Rachelle Haughn-

Four Democrats are vying for the position of city clerk-treasurer in Portland, an office left vacant by the death of Barbara Blackford.

In the running are two current members of the Portland City Council, a long-time communications officer for the Portland Police Department and a sales representative for an office supply company.

Portland precinct committeemen announced the candidates Saturday morning in a special meeting at the Jay County Democratic Party headquarters.

Those who applied for the job are Judy Aker, Linda Kennedy, Carolyn Bell and Randy Geesaman.

The Democratic Portland precinct committeemen will meet again on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m. at party headquarters to pick the new clerk-treasurer.

Jay County Democratic Party chairman Tim Southworth said state law requires the precinct committee to have the names of the candidates at least 10 days before voting. He said he wants the committee members to have plenty of time to think about the applicants because it is a big decision to make.

Aker, 601 Floral Ave., was elected to the city council in November of 2003. She has owned Aker Plumbing of Portland for 20 years. She holds an associate’s degree in management.

Kennedy, 1017 W. Main St., is in her sixth year on the city council. She has worked at CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union (formerly Portland Forge Employees Federal Credit Union) for nearly 15 years. Kennedy has experience in bookkeeping.

Bell, 123 W. Seventh St., has worked as a communications officer for Portland police since 1977. She also worked under the Redkey clerk-treasurer for two years in the early 1970s.

Geesaman, 219 Floral Ave., is a sales representative for HPS Office Systems of Muncie. He has experience in budgeting, forecasting and creating various reports. He is an Indiana University graduate.

Jackson Township resident Virginia Jackson, 6360 South 250 West, also applied for the position. She was removed from the list of applicants because the clerk-treasurer is required to have lived in the city for at least one year.

Southworth said the new clerk-treasurer must be appointed within 30 days of Blackford’s death. She died on July 20, following a sudden illness. She took office as clerk-treasurer in 1996.

The clerk-treasurer’s salary for 2006 has been set at $40,914.[[In-content Ad]]
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