While glancing around a small victory celebration party Tuesday night, the moment caught up with Brenda Eggering.

Hours after being elected circuit clerk, she choked on her words while attempting to thank everyone.

“Everybody worked so hard,” said Eggering, acknowledging the time spent campaigning door-to-door and volunteering at places such as the Warren County Fair. “I enjoyed it. I should have done this long ago.” 

Currently the probate clerk and with 32 years of experience working in the circuit clerk’s office, Eggering knocked off incumbent Jerri Jordan. Eggering finished with 2,617 votes, or 52.54 percent, unofficially. Jordan had 2,068 votes, or 41.52 percent.

Eggering, who is unopposed in the November general election and will replace Jordan in January and begin her four-year term.

Eggering’s campaign focused on improving the communication with the public visiting the circuit clerk’s office and with elected officials. She also had support thrown behind her from attorneys wanting to see a change.

She has been employed in the circuit clerk’s office since 1979 and currently works under Associate Judge Wes Dalton. 

“I am looking forward to this,” Eggering said. “I not only did it for myself, but for the public, the girls in the office and the attorneys. I will be the best I can for them.”

Jordan has been circuit clerk since 1999 and won re-election bids in 2003 and 2007. Other than the first time she ran, she hadn’t faced any opposition until this year.

A third candidate, Meg Lefferdink, received 296 votes despite announcing two weeks earlier she was withdrawing the race and throwing her support behind Eggering. Her name still appeared on the ballot due to the timing of her decision.

Recorder of Deeds

Of the four county offices that were contested Tuesday, only the newly created recorder of deeds seat will have a race in November. 

That race will feature Deborah Engemann facing Michelle Walch. The winner will serve a four-year term beginning in January.

Engemann easily won the Republican nomination in a three-way battle with Linda Gant and Lynn Bernard. Currently, the chief deputy recorder, Engemann amassed 3,074 votes, or 64.08 percent. Gant followed with 891 votes (18.57 percent) and Bernard had 832 (17.34 percent).

“I am excited it’s over with,” Engemann said. “I’m excited I won.”

On the Democratic ticket, Walch received 462 votes, or 62.77 percent, to Stuart Schwartz’s 274 (37.23 percent).

“I am excited,” Walch said. “I think I have some good ideas for the office. I bring management experience and hope to utilize today’s technology.”

The county commission voted last year to separate the recorder duties from the circuit clerk and make it an elected position. The annual salary will be $49,500, the same salary received by the county clerk, assessor, collector and treasurer.

Treasurer

Incumbent Gene Cornell withstood a challenge for the treasurer’s position by topping challenger Jackie Stewart by a comfortable margin. 

Cornell received 2,779 votes, or 56.31 percent, to be re-elected to his fifth consecutive four-year term. He has served as treasurer since 1995. Tuesday’s election marked only the second time he has been opposed in that period.

Stewart received 2,156 votes, or 43.69 percent.

“Congratulations to Jackie Stewart for running a good, clean, hard race,” Cornell said. “I am grateful to the voters of Warren County that I get to do this for another four years. I hope they are as pleased at the end of the four years as I am at the beginning.”

At 69, Cornell said he remains eager to continue being involved in public service in the county In his time as treasurer, he has helped build the county’s reserves to around $10 million and helped the county pay off $10.5 million in debt early from building the current courthouse.

“I think I have something to offer,” Cornell said. “I am so tickled with the kind of race that was run. It could have gone any way.”