Silvia Smith, MMC and CPM
Town of Payson
How many years have you served as a clerk? 18 years
Where are you originally from? Ignacio, Colorado
What is the most rewarding part of your job? To have our department be recognized by citizens for our exceptional customer service.
What is your favorite memory as a city/town clerk? Being recognized by the AMCA for Municipal Clerk of the Year in 2006.
Vicky Vivian, CMC
City of Benson
How many years have you served as a clerk? 11 years
Where are you originally from? Elfrida, Arizona (born in Douglas, Arizona)
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Being able to provide people with the information they need, whether it be a cemetery record for family research, utility assistance information or legislative history of the city.
What is your favorite memory as a city/town clerk? Having people participate in local government, either by coming to council meetings and addressing the council or running and serving as a council member; they come in and meet with me to learn about the city, the council, where they can find information, etc. I’ve had two people decide to run – and they served – on council after meeting with me regarding their questions.
Susan Stein, MMC, CPM, Current President of the Arizona Municipal Clerks Association (AMCA)
City of Bullhead City
How many years have you served as a clerk? 11 years as clerk, total of 20 years in government
Where are you originally from? Rochester, New York
What is the craziest question you have been asked by a resident? A woman who claimed she was Elvis Presley’s daughter came into City Hall and demanded that I provide her with the necessary records as proof.
What is your favorite memory as a city/town clerk? Receiving a visit from 90-year old Alona, the first city clerk for Bullhead City, and learning the city named a street after her called “Alona’s Way,” because everyone had to do things her way- which was the “Right Way.”
Diane Russell, MMC
Town of Prescott Valley
How many years have you served as a clerk? Deputy town clerk for nine years and town clerk 13 years.
Where are you originally from? Born in St. Louis and grew up in Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada.
What is the strangest/most unique task you have had to perform as part of your duties? Snake catcher! When a little red racer snake was slinking across the floor in our records center everyone deserted me, leaving me to catch it and take it outside.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Mentoring those who will follow me in the municipal clerk profession is something I enjoy doing. Nothing is more rewarding than helping a ‘new recruit’ discover that continuing education leads to success.
Cris Meyer
City of Phoenix
How many years have you served as a clerk? 24 years in the city clerk department with five years as city clerk.
Where are you originally from? Indianapolis, Indiana
What is the craziest question you have been asked by a resident? A voter asking about the procedure to change their vote the day after the election.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Working with other clerks and staff who are so dedicated to serving the public, and being able to assist people who are uncertain about where to go or are intimidated about interacting with government when they need information or records.
Kim L. Larson, CMC
City of Page
How many years have you served as a clerk? Eight years in department and three and a half years as clerk.
Where are you originally from? Boulder City, Nevada
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Being able to serve the citizens of our city, working with city council, preserving the records for the city’s history, and initiating new ideas and programs to streamline the workload.
What is your favorite memory as a city/town clerk? One of my most favorite memories was the second grade class coming to city hall to learn about elections. The mayor was present and talked to the students about an election, and when he asked if there were any questions, they all wanted to know about the large key on the wall and what it opened!
Brigitta Kuiper, MMC
City of Tempe
How many years have you served as a clerk? Six and a half years in Tempe. Prior to that, 12 years as city clerk in Yuma.
Where are you originally from? Charlotte, North Carolina
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Working with community members to increase their knowledge of city government, programs and services, and seeing them become actively involved in their city.
What is your favorite memory as a city/town clerk? My favorite memories are working with city staff and various election officials to coordinate election activities and working late into the night on election night to count ballots and distribute results.
Sonia Cornelio, MMC
City of San Luis
How many years have you served as a clerk? 11 years
Where are you originally from? Salinas, California
What is the craziest question you have been asked by a resident? I was asked if the city clerk’s office could send someone to sweep a street that contained gravel.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? The ability to be a helpful resource and provide service to internal and external customers in an ethical, impartial professional and excelling manner.
This week is the 47th Annual Municipal Clerks Week!
Municipal Clerks Week is a week-long event aimed at increasing the public’s awareness of municipal clerks and the vital services they provide for local government and the community.
City or town clerks have a variety of functions, including preparing agendas, taking minutes, maintaining ordinance and resolution files, keeping the city or town’s historical records, and processing permits. In addition to keeping records and maintaining the city’s documents, a clerk is responsible for administering local elections.
Municipal and Deputy Clerks’ main function is to serve as the council’s foundation. Other duties include, but are not limited to, preparing agendas, taking minutes, maintaining ordinance and resolutions files, keeping the municipality’s historical records, processing permits and serving as the clearinghouse for information about the local government. They also record the actions of the various commissions and committees appointed by the council. Many serve as financial officers or treasurers, and in small municipalities, may act as chief administrative officers. Another important responsibility is administering part or all of the local election functions.
Thank you, Arizona city and town clerks, for all that you do. You are some of the many reasons why Arizona Cities and Towns work!