INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – Indian River County Supervisor of Elections Kay Clem has resigned from her post effective Dec. 31.
Citing health reasons, Clem sent her letter of resignation dated Nov. 9 to Gov. Charlie Crist’s office.
“I have endured chronic pain issues resulting from unresolved health conditions for the last few years,” she writes in the one-page letter to Crist. “While I have met many of the health goals established by my physicians over that time, they have recommended that I end my tenure in order to gain control of the health issues that will not improve unless I do so.”
In the letter, Clem says that her resignation will come at a time that would allow for a “smooth transition” for the office and that she feels “comforted that the professional team I leave in place will be able to carry their next leader through the toughest part of the elections administration cycle.”
She is recommending her assistant, Leslie Swan, to fill out the remainder of her term until another election can be held to fill the position.
“This is no time for ‘on the job’ training in this part of the election administration cycle,” Clem said in her letter or recommendation for Swan sent to Crist dated Nov. 12. “The office must begin preparations for the complex redistricting duties we are required to carry out at the beginning of the new year.”
“She would serve our citizens well with a balanced view of all issues that face those serving the public in today’s climate,” Clem also writes of Swan.
Gov. Crist will appoint someone to complete Clem’s term.
“The Governor’s Appointments Office is accepting applications from individuals interested in serving and will make an appointment after careful review and interviews with the applicants,” said Gov. Crist’s Press Secretary Sterling Ivey in an e-mail to VeroNews.com.
As of yet, the office has not received any applications, Ivey said.
Clem, 57, has served as the county’s elections chief for 14 years over the course of 3 1/2 terms. She became the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections in 1996, when she replaced then-elections chief Ann Robinson.