Pulaski County has a new clerk. JoLynn Behny was selected for the position during a Republican Party caucus Tuesday. “Thank you very much,” she told precinct committee members after her selection was announced. “I will do my best to live up to your expectations and support the Republican Party and push the county forward. Thank you very much.”
Behny currently works for Pulaski County as a deputy auditor, and before that, she worked at a local law firm, “Which provided me with experience in preparing and processing legal documents, legal proceedings, and it gave me the opportunity to work directly with both the courts, the Clerk’s Office, and other attorneys and their staff,” she said.
The Clerk’s Office became vacant with the death of Christi Hoffa last month. Republican Party Chair Dan Murphy began Tuesday’s caucus with a moment of silence and added that Hoffa will be greatly missed. “JoLynn has a big job ahead of her,” Murphy said. “The person filling Christi’s shoes is going to be looked at and measured against her, and I’m almost sorry for you,” he joked.
Murphy also thanked all six candidates who took part in the caucus. Each of them had the chance to give a three-minute speech to party officials, and Precinct Committee Member Holly VanDerAa asked each of them about their leadership style, knowledge of the clerk’s duties, and what it means to be a Republican office-holder. All six candidates said they’d keep the current Clerk’s Office staff. Pulaski County’s upcoming switch in court software was another recurring topic.
In the end, it took just one ballot for Behny to receive the necessary seven votes from the 13 precinct committee members present. Behny will assume office on Wednesday, December 26 at 8:00 a.m. and will remain in office for the next four years.
