By Keith Gushard

Meadville Tribune

Republican Patricia We-therbee is headed for re-election to a third term as Crawford County’s clerk of courts.

With 66 of 67 precincts reporting, unofficial totals had Wetherbee, 46, with 8,980 votes to Democrat Cheryl Burkey’s 4,296 votes.

Wetherbee thanked her family, the voters and everyone who helped with her campaign. “I want to continue to move forward like we do in the office,” she said. “I’m open-minded to change.”

Wetherbee first was elected to the post in 2001. Prior to her election, she served as the clerk of court’s chief deputy for four years. She has worked in the clerk of courts office for a total of 29 years.

She also called Burkey a “worthy opponent.”

“She didn’t attack me as a person,” Wetherbee said. “I want to congratulate her on coming out to run.”

Burkey, 38, is no stranger to the local political scene. She currently is serving a four-year term as a member of Meadville City Council. She is a legal secretary with the Meadville law firm of Mason and Mason.

Burkey also thanked her voters across the county as well as family and friends for their work and support on the campaign.

“While the result was not what I had hoped for, the campaign has given me a very special opportunity to meet many good people who are genuinely interested and involved in the future of our county,” Burkey said in a prepared statement. “I want to congratulate Ms. Wetherbee on her re-election as Clerk of Courts.”

The clerk of courts acts as the chief clerk and record keeper for criminal cases for the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas. The office is responsible for maintaining records for all criminal cases, collecting fines and fees for the county judicial system and dispersing them. The office also collects restitution from criminal defendants on behalf of crime victims.

The clerk of courts also is the clerk of the orphans’ court in Crawford County. The orphans’ court office is responsible for issuing and recording marriage licenses; and for maintaining the officials records pertaining to proceedings related to estate, incapacitated persons and adoptions.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.