Since taking office in January, elected officials have all experienced a new range of challenges for 2020. Although most of the officials are recumbent, Joel Speed and Sally Wedgeworth have been navigating through new territory while learning how to do their new positions. So far, they have both done an amazing job and made some tremendous accomplishments in their positions.
Joel Speed
In his first few months as supervisor, Joel has had to handle two tornadoes and deal with changes due to COVID-19. His optimistic attitude has helped him handle all of the challenges that has been sent his way, and he loves to be able to help the people of Clarke County.
“I love being able to help the people, even if it isn’t anything major,” stated Speed. “I can’t always help as much as I’d like because of the different regulations, but I do enjoy being able to help when I can.”
Although he has had his set of challenges with tornadoes and a pandemic since he took office, Joel does not see that as the hardest part of being a supervisor.
“Honestly, everything you have to go through to do things legally is the hardest part of the job,” explained Speed. “There are laws about how to do things and what we can do, and making sure we know and follow those laws are the most difficult, especially when there is a big emergency that happened.”
Some of his biggest accomplishments since he has taken office has actually involved the tornadoes.
“I made some relationships and contacts with supervisors of other counties, and I called when we needed help with cleanup,” said Speed. “We’re still working on cleaning up from the first tornado, but between Lauderdale County, Lamar County, and our work crews, we’ve hauled over 300 dump truck loads of debris away. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far on clean up, but I do wish we were finished.”
He is already working hard to try and help everyone that he can in his district, and he has both short and long term goals to accomplish for the rest of his time in office.
“One of my long term goals is to help make Clarke County a place that is conducive to bring jobs into again,” stated Speed.
Based on his hard work so far, he is sure to achieve both his short and long term goals and will continue to help the citizens of Clarke County as much as he can.
Sally Wedgeworth
Sally took over as Circuit Clerk in January, and she had to start planning for an election and have a term of court, or grand jury, when she took over.
“February and March were hectic months for us,” stated Wedgeworth. “We were sending out absentee ballots, preparing for court, and issuing jury summons.”
She managed to make it through both the elections and court without any issues.
Those hectic events are not the only things that Sally has accomplished since taking office, though.
“We have updated computers coming in for the office,” said Wedgeworth, “and we’re working an online based computer program that will allow attorneys or anyone to see documents that are filed in our office without having to physically come to our office to see them. The program is called Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC). There are some fees involved, but anyone can make an account.”
The program should be started up close to the end of the year. The new computers that she got for the office were purchased through funds at the Secretary of State’s office.
With everything that her job demands, the hardest thing she has had to do doesn’t involve any of the general work itself.
“I’m not really a public speaker,” explained Sally. “The hardest thing I’ve had to do so far has been to stand in front of room full of jurors, make sure I had everything right, keep them in line for the judge, and do a whole term of court with just myself and the help of my deputy clerk, Wanda.”Sally is already making plans on what will have to take place in the upcoming years. Since the census is taking place this year, she already knows that they will have to look at redistricting lines next year to keep the population in each district even.
Like everyone else, she has to adjust to changes that are being made due to COVID-19. One of the changes that she has been adjusting to is using ZOOM to make conference calls and even do court.
Despite all of the challenges that happened since taking office, both Sally and Joel are both doing an amazing job so far and intend to continue to do everything they can to serve the citizens of Clarke County efficiently.
