Election Clerk Nicole Williams Moves to Assistant Manager

by Tryan Hartill

Clatsop County Manager Scott Derickson has chosen County Clerk Nicole Williams as his new assistant county manager.

“Nicole’s organizational knowledge, experience and education made her a very strong candidate for the position. Her detail knowledge of the community and the issues facing Clatsop County, coupled with her talents as a manager, will make her an excellent fit for this job,” Derickson said.

The county advertised the position and received 11 applications, including two internally.

Williams’ promotion is effective Monday, Feb. 4. She replaces longtime county employee Debra Kraske, who is retiring and leaving the area. Kraske will remain with the county until June to complete various projects. Meanwhile, Derickson has brought in Fred Neal, who recently retired as campaign finance manager with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, to oversee the Clerk and Elections Department until a permanent successor is named for that position.

The assistant county manager is the right-hand person for the county manager and steps into the position in his absence. The assistant county manager carries out many administrative duties, analytical studies, major projects, and coordinates the annual countywide budget preparation.

“I have enjoyed my experience as manager of the Clerk and Elections Department for the past nine years,” Williams said. “But I believe that it is now time to open the door to a new opportunity to have a more positive impact in a broader role for the county. I hope to bring the same professionalism and leadership that Deb Kraske brought to the position.”

During her leadership, the department has become recognized statewide as one of the best county clerk’s offices in Oregon. Her sound business decisions increased productivity and customer service, reduced costs and improved the integrity of the office and the community’s confidence in the elections process in the county.

She has been the County Clerk since 2005 and previously was the chief deputy clerk for nearly five years. She was the records supervisor for the department for three years. She went to work for the county in 1997 as a payroll accountant in the Central Services financial division.

As the County Clerk, Williams has earned the respect of her peers statewide and nationally. She was the invited keynote speaker on Oregon’s vote by mail system at a gathering of North Dakota legislators and election officials in Bismarck in May 2007. She received the President’s Award of Appreciation from the Oregon Association of County Clerks in 2006. Her department earned Best Practices Overall Award and Best Practices Award for Voter Outreach at the Northwest Regional Elections Conference in Portland last June.

One of her strongest assets Williams will bring to her new job is her communications skill. She has a bachelor’s degree in speech communications from Western Oregon State College and proven experience to communicate effectively with community leaders, co-workers, staff and news media. The past year, she was appointed to serve as the elections legislative chair by the Oregon Association of County Clerks, an appointment that required her to write and deliver testimony on behalf of the association to legislators in committee. The 2007 Legislative session was a successful session for the association, with key bills that had been ignored for years finally passed into law.

In addition, Williams brings strong financial talents. She minored in business in college, taking courses in accounting and business management. As the County Clerk, she has prepared up to four budgets every fiscal year. She completed courses on local budget law conducted by the Oregon Department of Revenue.

Williams was raised in Clatsop County and chose to return to the area after she completed college to raise her family. She and her husband, Ty, have two sons, Clay, 9, and Bo, 5.

“I am excited about this new professional opportunity to serve my community, which is made up of many of my friends and family,” she said.

Previous Article:
« CCFog Update

Next Article:
Local and Oregon News.... »

Links

Local Weather

• Buoy reports
• Forecast Glance
• MSL Forecast Center
• NOAA Satellite Loop
• Pacific Satellite
• Road Conditions
• Tide Book

Local Links

• Astoria Dispatch
• CCFog
• Josephson's Smokehouse
• Local Gas Prices
• OPB Public Newsroom
• Oregon Live-Oregonian
• The Daily Astorian

Local Government

• Astoria-Warrenton Chamber
• Betsy Johnson
• Brad Witt
• City of Astoria
• City of Seaside
• Clatsop College
• Clatsop County
• Port of Astoria
• State of Oregon
• Ted Kulongoski

Clatsop Blog Network

• Jeff Hazen IS Commish
• 33 Days
• Tom Freel's Coastwatch
• Astoria Citizens Journal
• Astoria Kiwanis Blog
• Astoria Mung
• Astoria Rust
• Astorianna
• Auntie L
• Burning Corn
• Dried Salmon Matters
• Dried Salmon Mess. Board
• GrassRootsPeople
• Josh Marquis
• KAST ProBrd Forum
• Life in the Great Northwet
• Mom of Three
• Oregon Guy
• Peter Huhtula
• The Rust Message Board
• Walluski Babble

Oregon Blogroll

• NW Republican
• BlueOregon
• Jack Bog
• Loaded Orygun
• Oregon Catalyst
• Oregon Country
• The Grich

National Blogroll

• DailyKos
• Digg
• EconBrowser
• Lew Rockwell
• Reason Online
• Reds Trading Post
• RedState
• The Oil Drum

Contact Info

• MySpace Page

Article Tags

• WebNews
• Richard Lee
• Clatsop County
• Josh Marquis
• Astoria
• Clatsop Commission
• OpEd
• LNG
• Stipend
• Energy
• Marquis
• Kiwanis
• Recall
• Clatsop County Commission
• Charter Amendment
• Democrats
• Oregon
• photo
• DA Pay
• Sam Patrick