Shari Lentz, supervisor of the Bartholomew County Voter Registration and Elections Office, has thrown her hat into the ring to fill the vacancy for Bartholomew County Clerk after Jay Phelps submitted his resignation.
On Tuesday, Lentz, 57, officially filed her candidacy with Bartholomew County Republican Party Chair Luann Welmer to serve out the rest of Phelps’ term, which ends Dec. 31, 2022, Lentz said in a press release.
Earlier this week, Phelps, who has been clerk since 2015, announced that he would step down to accept a new role at the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office working on election modernization. Phelps’ last day in office is Friday.
Lentz has served within the Bartholomew County Clerk’s Office for eight years, first starting as an Elections Deputy in 2013 and later as supervisor when Phelps became clerk.
Phelps, for his part, has expressed his support for Lentz to be his successor.
“Shari Lentz has worked tirelessly for over eight years in the Bartholomew County Voter Registration and Elections Office,” Phelps said. “She has been instrumental in the success of vote centers, and understands what it takes to be an effective clerk. She is well respected throughout Indiana as the Indiana Voter Registration Association president. Shari treats everyone with love, kindness, and compassion, and it would be an honor to have her be my replacement and the next Bartholomew County Clerk.”
Republican precinct committeemen will hold a caucus to select who will finish Phelps’ term, but no date had been set as of Monday.
Bartholomew County Deputy Clerk Julie Robertson has been named interim clerk until Phelps’ replacement is chosen.
