City Clerk Wins State Recognition

By Heidi Zemach
Seward City Clerk Jean Lewis, on the verge of her retirement with the city, was named the Clerk of the Year by the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks Monday night. The award is for outstanding contributions to the municipal clerk profession in the areas of professionalism, growth through education, leadership, community involvement, and elections. It is the highest award a municipal clerk in Alaska can receive, and some years the AAMC selection committee has not selected anyone nominated because they have not fit the tough criteria required.
The award was announced at the AAMC banquet in Juneau by Mona Lisa Drexler, Clerk of the Fairbanks Northstar Borough and AAMC Clerk of the Year Committee Chair. Mayor Willard Dunham and Vice Mayor Jean Bardarson had nominated Lewis for the award in September. Lewis appeared quite surprised and touched to recieve the award, which had been kept confidential, according to city staff who were there for the presentation. Lewis was appointed as the City Clerk by the council in May of 2002. Before that, she was Deputy Magistrate at the Seward Court for the State of Alaska for many years.

“I think she’s been invaluable to us, we’ll really miss her when she leaves,” said Councilman Tom Smith. “I think everybody on the council would say this– when you come on, there’s a lot that you don’t know, and need to know, and Jean let you know but did it in a very subtle way so you got what you needed. She always had a nice soft touch when she tried to tell you you’re doing something wrong. She’s a real jewel.”

Councilwoman Vanta Shafer also had high praises for Lewis: “Jean greatly deserves the Clerk of the Year award. During her tenure as City Clerk, she has set a high standard of performance. She has worked very hard to get the city records on laser fiche so that the
public has easier access to information. She is very professional and ensures her staff is knowledgeable and helpful. She will be missed.”

“Jean has been a truly dedicated, amazing clerk and is extremely deserving of this award,” said assistant City Clerk Johanna Kinney regarding her supervisor and mentor. “Jean has maintained a very public friendly office and her customer service, especially given the high volume of work and responsibility this office has, is commendable. She has been a great mentor and the type of City Clerk I will strive and hope to become. I certainly appreciate all that she has done for this office and community and can’t stress enough how much she deserves this award!”

Kinney has been selected by the city council to replace Lewis as City Clerk. She has trained very closely with Lewis, and her contract process was initiated following a recent interview with the council. Approval of her contract is on the Nov 22 Council meeting agenda.