Dearborn has selected a new city clerk.
The board of aldermen culminated its search for a replacement for longtime clerk Susan Crowley this week by hiring Sonia Ray, who has an extensive background in customer service and financial programs.
Ray and her husband, Bob, live just south of Dearborn in a home they are currently remodeling. They are longtime residents of the area.
She was selected from an initial field of six applicants. The board narrowed its choices to three, then held a special meeting Monday night to interview those three candidates in executive session.
Gary Bomar, alderman, said the selection process was difficult.
“The three finalists for the position were well-qualified and all were very capable in computer skills and public relations,” Bomar told The Landmark.
Louis Buntin, president of the board of aldermen, conducted Monday night’s meeting in the absence of Mayor Josh Linville. Alderman Donald Swanstone, Jr. was also absent. Buntin commented that he was pleasantly surprised by the high caliber of the candidates from which the board had to choose.
During executive session and after the interviews, Buntin, Bomar and fellow alderman Bill Edwards reviewed the applicants’ resumes and came to a decision. There was no formal announcement made after returning to regular session until Linville, Swanstone, and the selected applicant were notified.
Edwards said he was pleased with the applicants and looks forward to moving on with the business of the city.
“There have been some issues that were less than positive in the past and we hope all of that is behind us now. The new clerk has some big shoes to fill and it’s going to be difficult at first. We think we have picked a good candidate,” he remarked.
Crowley submitted her resignation in early August. She had served as clerk for 15 years and had been city treasurer for six years prior to that. She did not speak publicly about her reasons for resigning.
She had recently been working with officials from the state auditor’s office, assisting in gathering information needed required to conduct the audit that was required after a petition drive by residents last year.
“We wish Susan well,” Bomar said.
As for Ray, city officials say her background includes a most recent position with Farm Credit Services, where she had a wide range of responsibilities including initial contact with potential customers, setting up loan processing, maintaining and servicing loan portfolios, balancing receipts and disbursements and monitoring customer accounts and general ledgers.
In addition to her finance and accounting skills, she has experience and knowledge of computer programs, their usage and system upgrades.
Ray and her husband have two children, one son and one daughter. Their daughter recently married and is re siding in England. Their son is at Georgetown University finishing his graduate work.