Burke resigns as auditor, commissioner of elections after 10 years
Nick Johansen
The Red Oak Express
After 16 years serving in the Montgomery County’s Auditor’s Office and 10 years as Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, Stephanie Burke is moving on.
Burke announced her resignation during the June 8 Board of Supervisors meeting. Her last day will be June 30. She accepted a job with the Stanton District as the school’s business official and board secretary, replacing Shirley Maxwell, though Burke said Maxwell is not retiring yet.
“It’s been an honor serving the constituents of the county for all these years, and I am delighted to have a career opportunity in the education field with an amazing school district,” Burke stated.
Burke said that the choice to accept the position with Stanton came with a lot of soul searching, but she ultimately felt the choice was correct.
“I’ve been here 16 years, and an opportunity like this just doesn’t come up that often. I thought about it quite a bit, and talked through it with my family, and made the decision to move forward,” said Burke.
After being the county’s auditor for a decade, Burke said she’s going to miss all the people she’s worked with over the years.
“I’ve met a lot of people from my day to day work, and through various boards, and the staff, and the department heads. I’ll miss them, and I’ll also miss the other 98 county auditors I’ve worked with over the years. We have some really good auditors out there,” Burke stated.
Among Burke’s accomplishments during her tenure, Burke said one she’s most proud of is conducting a successful election in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were able to do it safely, and it was quite challenging, but I felt we did a fantastic job coordinating and handling it. That really stands out in my mind. There will never be an election quite like that one,” commented Burke.
As she prepares to transition to the new position in Stanton, Burke said she’s excited to be able to pursue a new endeavor.
I care about the Stanton District, and the community, which I live in. My three children are enrolled in Stanton, and I feel it will be a rewarding job to be part of the school district’s team. I’m honored, excited, and delighted to be selected as the school’s business official,” Burke said. “I feel that with my knowledge, I can bring a lot to the district. I think the atmosphere will be amazing, as there are a lot of good staff members there, as well as administration. I’m not sure how thrilled my kids are about it, but I definitely think it’s going to be neat to be a part of that learning experience.”
Supervisor Donna Robinson, who had worked with Burke the longest, wished Burke well and expressed her appreciation for Burke’s efforts.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done, and we will miss you. I think we all want to congratulate you on this new role, even though it’s a great loss for us,” Robinson said.
The supervisors accepted Burke’s resignation, with regret. Burke explained that to fill the vacancy, the supervisors had 40 days to appoint an auditor, which was no later than Aug. 9. With the general election coming up in November, there would be no time to hold a special election, and the position would be on the general election ballot to fill the vacancy.
The Republican and Democratic Party Chairs will have the opportunity to convene and put forth a candidate. Non-partisan candidates file a nomination petition with at least 50 signatures from eligible electors in Montgomery County. Aug. 8 is the first day to file nomination papers with the auditor’s office, and the deadline is Aug. 31.
The supervisors agreed to seek interested parties to be appointed to the position until the November election, with the deadline for applications at 4:30 p.m. on June 30. Applications will be reviewed following the July 5 Board of Supervisors meeting, and interviews will be scheduled, with the appointment to take place at the July 12 Board of Supervisors meeting.