(Juneau) A key departmental leader for Dodge County is retiring. Clerk Karen Gibson has announced her decision to step away from the post, a position she has served in since January of 2003. She has worked for the county since September of 1992.
Gibson told Daily Dodge her decision was based on two reasons. The first being the ability to retire once you hit the age of 55 and had spent 30 years in the Wisconsin Retirement System. She noted that the other reason has made her decision to leave much easier.
“November of 2020 has not helped anything…and November of 2020 has made that decision easier,” said Gibson. “I just can’t do another presidential [election] and what happened has been happening ever since. Everywhere you turn [people say] ‘Wisconsin’s going to be the swing state…watch out for Wisconsin’ and I just don’t want to be a part of that again.”
Gibson also praised every municipal clerk in Dodge County and said she will miss working with them.
“I’ve worked very closely with all the municipal clerks in Dodge County who I have always said are the best clerks in the state…we all work very well together…I appreciate everything they do…I’m sure I am disappointing a lot of them,” said Gibson. “But when you have people come to me after the election and start telling me ‘you are flipping votes…the machines are flipping votes’…it’s just very disappointing after all that I’ve put into this job. People listen to somebody that makes pillows for a living and not the people who are the experts.”
The Dodge County Board’s Executive Committee is meeting Monday night at 5pm to discuss next steps. Gibson said two others work in her office and one of the individuals has expressed interest in taking the role.
She added that, in her opinion, it makes the most sense to pick someone who has the experience – especially going into the fall presidential election. Whoever is appointed, will serve the remainder of Gibson’s term which concludes this fall. County clerk is an elected position, so that individual would need to run in the November vote if they wish to retain the job.
Gibson’s last day is May 17th.
