With the coming retirement of longtime City Clerk and Treasurer Karen Girondo, Wright City leaders are preparing to appoint two people to fill the vital roles.

Abbie Ogborn and Stephanie Hampton will be appointed next month as the successor clerk and treasurer, respectively. 

The city clerk is charged with maintaining records and coordinating elections, while the treasurer maintains the city’s finances.

City Administrator Jim Schuchmann said Hampton was recruited last year to eventually take over as treasurer, while Ogborn grew into her new role through a series of city jobs that started in high school. He said planning for the positions began two years ago at Girondo’s request.

Schuchmann said Ogborn, while working at city hall, had impressed with her ability to handle whatever work was given to her. Hampton, meanwhile, had the right education and experience the city needed for the duties of treasurer.

Prior to being hired for the city government, Hampton did bookkeeping for Pundmann Ford in St. Charles. She has a degree in accounting from Central Methodist University, which she acquired while also working full-time.

“It’s all been pretty quick for me to pick up,” Hampton said. “There’s still things to learn. It seems like every day there’s something new. … There’s a lot of things in this position that only happen once a year.”

Ogborn is from Foristell and is a graduate of Wright City High School. Her first job with the city was as an umpire during her junior year in high school. From there, she worked her way up through jobs with the city while attending St. Charles Community College for accounting and business.

Ogborn said she enjoys that her job allows her to witness positive change in the community.

“Watching the city grow, being here since I was a kid, being able to experience all the new homes being built … it’s just neat to see and be a part of,” Ogborn said.