Clay County update: Commission to recommend seven members for Constitution review; no gender quota, counselor says

The Clay County Commission received an update on forming a seven-member Constitution Review Commission, with county staff reporting eight applications and a plan to finalize appointments next week.

The administrator told commissioners the recommendation is that each commissioner nominate a participant and that the appointments must be completed by Feb. 15 to meet the statutory timeline. "We have had that. And right now, we have 8 applications," the administrator said, adding staff will share applications with commissioners ahead of a final review and approval slated for the Feb. 5 meeting.

Resident Sherry Duffin asked whether membership would require a male-to-female ratio or be chosen solely on submitted resumes. "Is that gonna be a a male to female ratio, or does it just depend on who submits a resume?" Duffin asked. County Counselor Kevin responded, "There's no requirement as to gender, male to female ratio in the Constitution." He described eligibility and district requirements: appointees must be citizens, voters who have lived in their district (he cited a two-year residency reference), the commission must include at least three members from each commission district with a fourth from one district, and members who served on previous review commissions are ineligible.

Kevin also laid out the schedule for the review process: appointees must be named by Feb. 15; the commission must hold its first meeting within 30 days of appointment; and from that first meeting it has 90 days to submit a proposed document to the election board. Depending on when the commission completes its work, the measure could be placed on an August ballot or, if it takes longer, on the November ballot. "They will be appointed by February 15. They need to meet within 30 days of that for their first meeting. From their first meeting, they have 90 days to submit a document to the election board to be placed on a ballot," the counselor said.

Commissioner Lawson said the commission’s composition should be guided by competence and collegiality rather than demographic quotas. "My fondest wish would be that we have a group of people that work and play well together that have the best interests of this county at heart," Lawson said.

The administrator said the review commission’s meetings will be publicly noticed and will include opportunities for public input. No formal action was taken on the item; the report was informational and will return for final appointments at an upcoming meeting.