After nearly 36 years, Linda Brown will soon retire.
She came to work at the Wasco County clerk’s office in 1979 as a recordings deputy. Brown then became the chief deputy under County Clerk Karen LeBreton Coats in 1987 and when her predecessor retired at the end of 2010, Brown was appointed and then elected county clerk.
Officially, her last day is June 30.
According to Brown, it’s time. Actually, it’s past time.
Brown was going to retire with LeBreton Coats four years ago but decided to stay for the good of Wasco County.
“Karen and I discussed that it would be a huge hit to the county if we both left at the same time and agreed that one of us would stay. I asked to be appointed. I felt an obligation to Wasco County, to leave them in good standing.”
Brown still feels that obligation and has agreed to stick around to train the next county clerk.
She’s also willing to return for the primary election next May.
“There is copious reading that you need to do to keep up to speed of the law changes,” Brown said. “You have to be aware if a law is going to change that is going to affect your recording side or election side. it’s not insurmountable but I felt like if I could help that process if they got someone that is not from within my office, I could come back to show them how to put the budget together, how to pay the bills and answer any questions that they may have.”
Over more than three decades, Brown has seen the county clerk’s office reduced from seven to four people. The responsibilities have also changed. They no longer issue passports or pay all the bills for the county. Today, the office primarily holds and records elections.
“Elections are the most fascinating,” Brown said. “I never cared about who won or lost. It’s the process, making sure that you have fair and equal elections. But they can also be nerve-racking. You lay awake at night wondering did I do this right? What did I forget? I won’t miss that, because I still do that. I still wake up in the middle of the night.”
When she retires, Brown is looking forward to spending more time with her grandchildren, including the new baby coming in South Carolina.
“My plan was that when my first grandchild was born, I thought given my age, I would retire and watch him go through high school. He’s graduated this year so that didn’t happen,” Brown said.
“Retiring would have give me some time to go to sporting events and watch my grandkids grow up and that just hasn’t happened. All of my friends are retired and I’m still working. My goal was 30 years so I’ve exceeded that. It flies. It is just amazing. The last four years have flown by.”
Brown officially announced her retirement at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, April 1.
“It has been a pleasure to work for Wasco County and its citizens for the past thirty five
years,” she wrote in a letter. “I have worked alongside excellent colleagues, department managers and with dozens of dedicated county employees. I have appreciated the support, guidance and encouragement from past and current Commissioners. While I look forward to my retirement, I will miss working for Wasco County.”
The commissioners are in charge of appointing Brown’s interim successor and are currently accepting applications through Friday, April 24. The election will be held November, 2016.
“I don’t think the general public really has a full scope of what goes on in the clerk’s office,” Commissioner Rod Runyon said to Brown at the meeting. “It’s amazing what you do and your staff does.”
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