Nadene Alford appointed by court as new Kerr County Clerk
Nadene Alford, a county employee whose 39 years of loyal service include stints as chief deputy in not only the county clerk’s office but also the tax assessor-collector’s office, has been sworn in as the Kerr County Clerk. She will serve through Dec. 31, 2024, to fulfill the unexpired term of Ian Collum, who resigned due to health reasons.
Meeting in special session Monday, May 6, the Kerr County Commissioners’ Court formally accepted Collum’s resignation, which he submitted May 1.
Before that vote, Judge Rob Kelly read Collum’s notice, in which he stated he was grateful for the opportunities he was given to serve, credited his fellow staff members for their support and offered to help as much as he could with the impending transition.
Collum, who was appointed to the office after Jackie (J.D.) Dowdy resigned, ran unopposed and won in the March Republican Primary Election.
After the court accepted his resignation, Commissioner (Pct. 3) Jonathan Letz read a letter from Kerr County Tax Assessor-Collector Bob Reeves, who overwhelmingly recommended Alford as the ideal choice to step into the role.
Alford joined the Kerr County Clerk’s Office in 1985 in the land records division and quickly became the “go-to” expert. Over the next 22 years, she would work in almost every division of the county clerk’s office, including, but not limited to probate, county court-at-law and vital records. She ultimately became the department’s chief deputy, and “served with the utmost of distinction,” Reeves noted.
In 2007, she moved over to the tax office as elections coordinator. She also served in multiple capacities there. Among her career highlights are obtaining a CERA (Certified Elections/Registration Administrator) designation (a master’s level achievement offered by Auburn University) and being distinguished as a Texas Registered Elections Officer (REO).
In 2018, she became chief deputy of the tax office, quite possibly becoming the only person in the county’s history to become chief deputy of two separate offices, Reeves said.
Her stellar performance as a cog in the county government wheel was highlighted in April of this year, when she was named as the county’s employee of the month.
She not only brings with her to the county clerk’s chair a wealth of experience, but she also is dedicated and loyal to the citizens of the community. She arrives early, stays late and does whatever is necessary to do the job properly.
Collum’s sudden resignation left a void in the county clerk’s office and “she can fill that void,” Reeves said. While he admitted that he didn’t want to lose such a valuable teammate and friend from his department, he simultaneously recognized she is needed and well-suited for the position
The court voted 4-0 (Commissioners (Pct. 2) Rich Paces absent) to name Alford as the county clerk to fill Collum’s unexpired term.
“We are really fortunate to have someone with that kind of expertise” who is willing to step up and serve, said Commissioner (Pct. 4) Don Harris.
The county judge noted that this year is a little unusual in that there are four elections slated, including the “high-spirited contest” due in the November General Election. He credited senior elections clerk Denise Vela for having done a “masterful job” since the elections division was moved back to the statutorily obligated county clerk’s office. But, he said, having Alford to lead the county through the two elections remaining this year seemed a natural choice.
The county clerk’s office has weighty and complex responsibilities within local government, and it is essential that it operates smoothly and gets legal postings done in a timely fashion – especially when it comes to maintaining grants, Kelly added. Alford has not only experience with elections, but also extensive experience in every aspect of the county clerk’s office that will help it move forward effectively.
In other business, since public officeholders do not receive comp time, overtime or similar county employee benefits, the court approved paying out the 200 hours of comp time amassed by Alford, as well as 160 hours of her more than 400 hours of earned PTO (with the remainder to be addressed at a future meeting.) Reeves said he plans to hold her position in case she goes back to it after the term is complete. If she does that, then she will retain her sick leave, but if she doesn’t, she will lose that, per employee policy.
Commissioners also unanimously approved the security bond on Alford, before Judge Kelly conducted a swearing in ceremony on the spot.