ALEXANDER COUNTY CLERK QUITS; REPLACEMENT NAMED

CAIRO, Ill. -- The Alexander County Board of Commissioners announced the resignation of County Clerk Sue Harrington and appointed Louis Maze as interim clerk during a meeting Tuesday.

Presiding Commissioner Charles "Chuck" Bonefield said Friday will be Harrington's last day in office. She served the county well and will be missed, he said.

Harrington is serving her eighth year as county clerk. She also held the position of county treasurer for four years and worked in other county offices for two years.

She said she first considered retirement a year ago but remained in office because "some other things came up." However, she said she recently notified county commissioners of her decision at her doctor's insistence.

"I hate to give it up, but you've got to do what you've got to do," she said. "I love politics and I love the actual work, so it's going to be hard. I feel like this is home."

Maze, a former county commissioner for eight years, will assume Harrington's duties Monday. He said he has been working with Harrington to become familiar with his new job and will remain in office through general elections in November.

"I was sort of reluctant to accept the appointment because I knew I was a candidate and would hate to take the job for three months and then lose in the election," said Maze, who is running against Republican Gerry Clark. "I think it'll be alright, though, and I'm going to work hard to get familiar with everything between now and November."