Voters Tab Haigler for Another 4 Years

Jennifer Haigler won reelection as the Blain County Clerk during Tuesday’s General Election.

The Republican won with a 2,868-929 vote, or 75.5 to 24.5 percent, over Independent Tracy Walker.

Haigler, a lifelong resident of the county and graduate of Canton High School, turned a part-time gig at the clerk’s office into a career. After working her way into a fulltime position in the clerk’s office, Haigler decided to run for County Clerk in 2016. She ran unopposed and has spent her term making improvements in the office during her first term, she said.

Her philosophy about the office is clear.

“You trust the people in your office. You give the employees the skills and confidence to do the job even when someone else is absent. Not everyone uses the same process, but the end result is what counts,” she said earlier this year.

Although Haigler has been in the office for a while now, she says she still learns something new every day. The audits she has overseen have been excellent learning opportunities. The 2017 audit (for the 2015-16 fiscal year) showed where streamlining changes could be made and how the county could mimplement internal controls. “We segregated the duties further,” she said. “Fresh eyes look at all tasks.”

Haigler said in her time in office she has improved communication between county offices and the officials are working together for the good of the county. She told the Republican she wanted to continue in the position because she believes consistency matters.

“I want to see how good we can make (the office), how best to streamline it and make it as efficient as possible. Someone with no experience can do the county great disservices,” Haigler said.

Walker ran on a strong background in accounting and payroll.

If elected, Walker told the Republican in an earlier interview that she would like to update and reorganize the office and its procedures.

“I would welcome citizens to the office. They would be treated with courtesy and respect. After all, we’re public servants,” she said. ”The public pays our wages and we work for the people of the county.”