James retiring as clerk-treasurer

REDKEY — The town will be looking for a new clerk-treasurer.

Debbie James, Redkey’s current clerk-treasurer, announced via email Thursday afternoon that she will be retiring from that position. Her retirement is effective Dec. 10.

James, who turned 63 last month, said this morning that she and her husband, former Redkey Town Marshal Donnie James, had talked about her possible retirement for about six months. She had gone back and forth while considering the possibility.

“I kept saying, ‘Yes, I will. No, I won’t,’” James said. “Finally we sat down and he said, ‘Debbie, I would like for you to retire.’ And I said OK.”

James has served as Redkey’s clerk-treasurer for nearly a decade. She was appointed to the post in December 2010 to fill the unexpired term of Sandy Kirby. She was unopposed in winning her own first term in 2011 and then unopposed again in earning her second term in 2015.

A Democrat, she was re-elected to a third full term in November 2019 when she defeated independent challenger Myra Davis 94-63.

James said she had not considered retirement prior to the election.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” she said. “I enjoy the people. Yes, there’s ups and downs with it, but that’s with every job.

“I’m going to miss my people.”

It will be up to Jay County Democratic Party chairman Dominic Martyne to name a replacement for James. Often, such a vacancy would be filled by the party’s relevant precinct committeeman, but Redkey’s lone such position is currently vacant.

Martyne went through the same process this summer when he named Dottie Quakenbush to Redkey Town Council following the resignation of Terri Taylor.