E.L. to swear in new City clerk, deputy city manager

After spending seven years helping to administer elections and encouraging students to vote, East Lansing City Clerk Sharon Reid retires today.

“When you work in elections, your life is very structured to the time frame of elections,” she said. “I’ve done (about 20) elections in my seven years here, (and it’s) been very hectic-paced — I’m looking forward to slowing down a little bit.”

The current deputy city clerk, Nicole Evans, will be sworn in as the city clerk at the East Lansing City Council meeting Tuesday.

“I know it’s going to be a very important election for a lot of people, (so) taking over at this time could be a little scary,” said Evans, who became deputy city clerk in 2006.

During the 2004 election, East Lansing had almost 6,000 new registered voters, which is more people registered in a short period of time than many jurisdictions have permanently registered, Reid said.

“We were all having to do (night) shifts to get all the information in,” she said. “We were here to 10, 11, 12, 1 every night for weeks.”

Reid said she will miss being involved with this year’s election, but is looking forward to spending time traveling and reading. In addition, she is expecting her first grandchild.

“I’ll be able to be there every day and watch the baby as it changes, because it (will change) every day,” she said.

The city clerk has a huge responsibility during elections, Evans said. The clerk must test the equipment, proof the ballots and ensure everything follows election law.

In addition, George Lahanas will be sworn in as the new deputy city manager Tuesday.

“Part of the reason for that is that in (the city manager’s) absence, or if something were to happen, there needs to be a designate for who would be the acting city manager,” said Marie McKenna, executive assistant to the city manager.

Though the position has been empty for about two years, Lahanas, the director of administrative services for the city, has already been doing the job for a couple years, McKenna said.

“Now, essentially he is the second in command,” she said.

Published on Thursday, August 28, 2008