Valley County Clerk & Recorder Resigns

Valley County Clerk & Recorder/Superintendent of Schools Taryn Aberg submitted her resignation letter to the county commissioners on Sept. 21. Aberg was elected to her position in 2018 and the four-year term will expire Dec. 31, 2022. Aberg’s resignation is effective Wednesday, Dec. 2, of this year.

“I have decided to dedicate more time to my children and family,” she wrote. “Due to relocation, I am unable to fulfill my term as Clerk and Recorder.”

In Valley County, the position of Election Administrator is also filled by the Clerk & Recorder/Superintendent of Schools. The Election Administrator runs all elections in the county, city and town elections, Valley County Elections and Special District elections, as well as state and federal level elections. All voter registration is also ran through this office. Aberg’s resignation date falls four weeks and one day after the 2020 general election.

Because her resignation was submitted after July 31, before the general election this year, the commissioners will select and appoint a replacement who will serve out the remainder of Aberg’s term. The Commissioners announced that they are accepting applications for the position and are seeking applications from all qualified people. Valley County Commissioner John Fahlgren noted that the search will be significantly narrowed as one requirement for the position is residency in Valley County.

Per Mary Armstrong, at the commissioners’ regular Wednesday meeting on Sept. 23, Aberg has indicated that she will be available as an employee of the Clerk & Recorder’s office to assist the commissioners, though Armstrong stressed that would not be in the role of Clerk & Recorder, but rather “as an employee working virtual.”

Aberg’s letter noted that she has been working for Valley County for the past seven years, and she remains grateful for the experience and knowledge she has gained in her employment. She closed her letter, “I cannot begin to express the gratitude I have for everyone who has supported me and instilled their trust by electing me as the County Clerk and Recorder.”

The commissioners unanimously voted to solicit applicants for the position for a two-week period. The commissioners noted at their meeting that there is precedent for filling vacated positions, such as the appointment of Vern Buerkle to fill the remainder of Glenn Meier’s position as Sheriff/Coroner and the appointment of Dylan Jensen to fill in the remaining time of Nick Murnion as county attorney. Further, the position of Clerk & Recorder is non-partisan, opening up the applicant pool for the soon-to-be vacated position.