(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. The second being the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. Gibson said quote (quote) “I just can’t do another presidential election” and “what happened then has been happening ever since.”
When looking back at her career as county clerk, Gibson shared one of her favorite parts of the job.
“Issuing marriage licenses…I loved doing it…the people are great…they are happy, obviously,” said Gibson. “We’ve seen a lot of different things. My predecessor had said at one point ‘I should write book’ when she left and I wish I would have. Different stories that we’ve had with marriages…and, oh my goodness…and people don’t realize we have to go up to the prisons when prisoners want to get married and just the stories that come out of there.”
Gibson also said she will miss working with municipal clerks throughout the county and called them (quote) “the best…in the state.” Her last day is May 17th.
The Dodge County Board’s Executive Committee met Monday to discuss the impending vacancy and next steps. County Board Chairman Dave Frohling said the Committee recommended Chief Deputy Clerk Danielle Van Egtern to fill the remainder of Gibson’s term, which ends this fall. The County Board will have final say at their meeting later this month.
Frohling said the goal is to post the chief deputy position and have it filled prior to the August primary and the November election. The county clerk is an elected position, so Van Egtern will need to run in the fall if she wishes to retain the seat.
