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Watauga losing court clerk
Glenn Hodges will end his term early because of health problems
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Published: March 19, 2009
BOONE
Watauga County's longtime clerk of court will retire on March 31, cutting his term short because of health problems.
Glenn Hodges, 75, has been clerk of court since 1992.
Hodges, a Democrat, said yesterday that when he ran for re-election in 2006, he intended to finish his four-year term but has had a number of health problems lately. He declined to elaborate on them.
"I feel like if I can't put 100 percent into it, I should step down," he said. "I've been here a while, and it's time to let someone else do it."
Judge James L. Baker of Watauga Superior Court will appoint someone to fill Hodges' term. The position will be up for election in 2010.
Diane Tilson, the chairwoman of the Watauga County Democratic Party, said that Hodges is one of those local leaders that people know widely and whose counsel is sought by both parties.
Hodges won his first election in 1992, and has been unopposed in elections since.
"The fact that he has been unopposed in this position speaks well of both his popularity and the effective job he does being clerk of court," Tilson said.
District Judge Greg Horn said that Hodges has been a model public servant, accessible and willing to help.
"His legacy will be the excellent staff he has," Horn said. "He's run a very professional and efficient office. You can't take someone like Glenn out of the equation and not be left with a void. Whoever Judge Baker appoints will have tremendous shoes to fill."
"I think the world of Glenn, both as a friend and a colleague," Horn said.
"We're going to miss him."
■ Monte Mitchell can be reached in Wilkesboro at 336-667-5691 or at mmitchell
@wsjournal.com
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