Cameron retires from board of elections

Highland County Board of Elections Director Kate Cameron has announced her retirement, effective June 30. 

Cameron, a Democrat, has been the director for approximately three years, and had replaced former Republican director Terry Washburn. 

According to board of elections member and Highland County Democratic Party Chairperson Dinah Phillips, the director of the office of the board of elections must be in the same party as the Ohio Secretary of State. The president of the board of elections is then in the opposite party. 

"I have worked close to 20 years with the board of elections and started back when Zelma Furnish was director," Cameron said. "It's for no particular reason, I just wanted to retire."

The board of elections is advertising for a deputy director. Board of elections president Kay Ayres said that most likely Debbie Craycraft, a current board employee and former director, will be promoted to the post. 

"I've had a lot of good times, and I've enjoyed it immensely," Cameron said. "There have been a lot of changes. When I first started, we were using the old punch cards, and then it changed to what we're doing today. It's a little more stressful than it used to be, but it's been good."

Phillips said that they are sad to see Cameron go, but that they wish her well in her retirement.

"We were extremely pleased that Kate wanted to take on a big challenge (when she was promoted to director)," Phillips said. "She was a calming influence that we desperately needed. She was someone who was not real boisterous, and was more laidback. She dealt with the public well, and that is a real credit to her. We'll be sorry to see her leave, and whoever takes her place will have big shoes to fill. She basically made sure the elections ran without a hitch."

Phillips said that typically the change in director, due to the secretary of state change, would have taken place at the board's reorganizational meeting in February, but since Cameron is retiring, they decided to do it now. The Highland County Democratic Party Central Committee will review the applications for deputy director, and then they will bring the recommendation to the board of elections. The four-member board will then make the ultimate decision on the hire, she said. The vote, according to Phillips, must be at least 3-1, and if the vote is 2-2, the hire is not made. 

Either Democratic board of election members Phillips or Andy West will be made board president, and either Ayres or Republican member Steve Hunter will be made vice president. 

"Kate is a lovely person, and a wonderful person to work with," Ayres said. "She is very accommodating and has been a real asset to the office."

Ayres said that a possible replacement for Cameron has been discussed with office employees.

"Debbie is the logical person," Ayres said. "We've already talked to her and Steve (Witham) about it. They would be almost equal in the amount of responsibility, with Steve being our chief elections person. Debbie was the director at that point, after Joyce Harvey died. Debbie and Steve are very comfortable with the situation, and they are fine with it."