CLAY COUNTIANS DECIDE ‘THE CIRCUS’ MUST LEAVE

CLAY COUNTIANS DECIDE ‘THE CIRCUS’ MUST LEAVE

Subheader body

Clay County voters agree in ‘blowout’ to pass county constitution, change form of government fundamentally

Posted in:
LIBERTY – After six decades of effort, Clay Countians gained a new form of government by a number that overwhelmed even Constitution Commission Co-Chairman Greg Canuteson. “It’s a blowout,” Canuteson said Tuesday. “It’s such a blowout, I’m worried that it’s not real.” The issue passed with an 81.34% majority, 99,892 to 22,911. “It’s a shocking return,” Canuteson, a Democrat, said. “Voters wanted the circus to leave town.” Having been an early constitution advocate, community activist Jason Withington’s support for the document weakened because of what he considered a flaw: the document called for four additional county commissioners but turned several elected county offices into appointed jobs – public administrator, treasurer, clerk, recorder and collector. “It’s not like I was against the constitution. I was just against getting rid of the elected officials,” he said. Co...

Premium Content is available to subscribers only. Please login here to access content or go here to purchase a subscription.