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Offering a mix of gifts, kudos, handshakes and hugs, Park County commissioners bid adieu to four elected officials on Tuesday.
Park County Sheriff Scott Steward, Park County Clerk of District …
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Offering a mix of gifts, kudos, handshakes and hugs, Park County commissioners bid adieu to four elected officials on Tuesday.
Park County Sheriff Scott Steward, Park County Clerk of District Court Patra Lindenthal, Park County Coroner Tim Power and Park County Commissioner Joe Tilden are all exiting their positions as the new year begins, taking more than 90 years of county government experience with them.
“This is going to be tough and it’s going to be hard for me to get through,” commission chair Dossie Overfield said as she began the proceedings.
Lindenthal has been clerk of court for the past eight years, but worked in the office for more than 30 years in total.
“Park County’s been good to me,” she said.
Lindenthal will be replaced by her first deputy, Deb Carroll, next month.
Power, who was unable to attend Tuesday’s reception, served as coroner for 18 years before opting to retire. He helped stabilize the office, with the third-longest tenure among the county’s 14 coroners. Power is being replaced by Ballard Funeral Home Director Cody Gortmaker.
Tilden, meanwhile, served for 12 years on the commission, which puts him in a tie for the third-longest tenure on the board.
“I can’t say I’m going to miss the job per se, because it’s not an easy job, but I am going to miss the people I’ve worked with over the years,” Tilden said, adding that he’d made some good friends.
As for Steward, who spent about 31 years in the sheriff’s office and the last 18 as sheriff, it wasn’t exactly a goodbye. Next month, he’ll replace Tilden as county commissioner.
“Looking forward to seeing you up here in just a couple weeks,” Overfield told Steward.
“Out of the fun, into the fire,” the sheriff-turned-commissioner quipped.
Meanwhile, Scott Steward’s brother, longtime law enforcement officer Darrell Steward, is becoming the county’s next sheriff.
The county’s elected officials — including those like Overfield who won reelection — are set to be sworn in to their new terms on Jan. 3. The Tribune will have more retirement coverage next week.
