Gina Everson (left) is sworn in as the new St. Joseph County clerk/register of deeds in a ceremony Monday at St. Joseph County Circuit Court. Everson takes over for Lindsay Oswald, who resigned to take a position with the state at the end of last week.
By Robert Tomlinson
News Director
CENTREVILLE — A shake-up in the St. Joseph County Clerk’s office was made official this week.
Friday was the final day in office for St. Joseph County Clerk Lindsay Oswald, who resigned from her position as clerk after just over nine years in the position.
Oswald had previously declined to seek re-election, with her name not on the ballot in the August primary for the Clerk’s seat.
The lone person who was on the ballot in August will be the one taking her place. On Monday, Gina Everson, who is currently the Chief Deputy Register of Deeds, was appointed to be the new county clerk and register of deeds, being sworn in by St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. Everson will fill out the rest of Oswald’s term, which expires at the end of this year.
The short swearing-in ceremony, held in Stutesman’s courtroom, was attended by numerous county employees and residents, with Everson making brief remarks after being sworn in.
“As I step into the role of county clerk with an important election on the horizon, I’m honored and humbled by the trust that has been placed in me,” Everson said during the ceremony. “I promise to work hard, ensuring that this election and every aspect of the office is handled with integrity and dedication. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to serving you.”
Everson, a Republican and a certified election administrator in the state, will still be on the ballot for formal election to the seat in November. However, she is the only name that will officially be listed on the ballot, as there are no Democrats running for the seat.
Following the ceremony, Everson said she was “surprised” about the circumstances, as she was “ready to take office Jan. 1,” but she said she’s “ready to move forward.”
“It’s a lot to take on, but we have really great staff, everyone’s been helpful, and we’re just ready to move forward to the election,” Everson said.
Customer service, Everson said, will be a focal point for her as she takes over the office.
“We want to get back to what I feel are good customer service standards,” Everson said. “I hope people notice that change coming up soon.”
Everson noted her first meeting with township clerks is later this week, and that overall, she’s looking forward to her new role.
“I’m ready for it, we have great staff, everybody’s been pitching in to help, so I’m looking forward to it,” Everson said.
Oswald: ‘I am ready for a new challenge’
Oswald, the now-outgoing county clerk has been with St. Joseph County since 2013, beginning with working on community development projects, and was appointed county clerk after Pattie Bender’s exit in 2015. Before joining the county staff, she was the city clerk for Three Rivers from 2007-13.
Her departure, coming just over a month before the 2024 presidential election, could be seen as a bit of a shock given the timing. In an email interview Monday, Oswald explained the situation, saying a new opportunity opened up that could not wait until January.
That position, Oswald said, will be working with the State of Michigan’s high-speed internet office. She did not say what specific role she’d have with the office, but she said the new position would allow her to continue to serve the public.
“While waiting to finish out my term would have been ideal, I have two children who count on me. I was able to find a position that allows me to continue serving the public, and I wanted to be able to accept that position. I couldn’t ask them to wait until January for my term to end,” Oswald said. “Elections have become a passion of mine, and after almost 22 years, it is going to be difficult to step away.
“I have been doing this for a long time and was honored to have opportunities to help shape changes in elections. I am ready for a new challenge.”
She added that she felt “comfortable” stepping away without leaving what she called “complications” for the county.
“Since there is only one name on the ballot for November, I felt comfortable stepping away without leaving complications for County leadership and the judge who ultimately appoints someone to fill the vacancy,” Oswald said.
Everson, she said, has been gaining knowledge on how to run elections, and has been learning over the past few years.
“I wish her the best in this new role,” Oswald said, passing along a piece of advice for Everson: “In our current election environment, information is an important tool. The more informed people are, the more they can be involved in their elections and see all the procedures and safeguards that exist.”
Oswald said that since the 2020 election, there have been “difficult times” in those years since. Her experience is like many election administrators around the state and the country have experienced since the 2020 election, especially in the wake of unfounded conspiracy theories about that election that still persist today.
She called the “threats and targeting” those election administrators have been facing “disheartening,” but added that “once people understand the process, they don’t doubt elections are secure.”
“Mr. Rogers said ‘look for the helpers.’ There are a lot of people out there still willing to step up to serve, everyone from election inspectors to our bureau of elections staff to the legal departments in their prosecution of election fraud and threats,” Oswald said.
Overall, she said she enjoyed working with “leaders who truly believe in serving the public,” and added the county is in good hands with Everson as the new clerk. As she leaves her post, she said she still feels that elections are safe and secure in St. Joseph County with what’s in place.
“I believe in the integrity of our election system because of all the processes, procedures, and checks in place,” Oswald said. “We have multiple levels of government reviewing election processes, including the public. Michigan has set standards for best practices in the nation for decades.”
Robert Tomlinson can be reached at 279-7488 or robert@wilcoxnewspapers.com.
