New Berlin — The city has a new clerk.
Kari Morgan succeeds Marilyn Gauger who retired at the end of 2009. Morgan started in her new post on primary election day, Feb. 16.
The clerk is responsible for taking care of city records, handling elections, notifying residents of potential projects and issues affecting them and is keeper of the official minutes. The clerk's office also issues licenses and permits.
Morgan was chosen from a field of 10 applicants, which is large for the office requiring highly specialized training, Tami Potkay, director of human resources, said.
"I didn't expect that many," Potkay said. "And I am very pleased at the quality of the applicants."
Two screening panels interviewed the candidates and recommended four to Mayor Jack Chiovatero. He chose Morgan who went on to win Common Council approval. She will receive $72,240 annually.
Morgan comes to New Berlin from more than five years as clerk for the town of Raymond where she grew up and currently lives with her husband and 2-year-old daughter.
Morgan holds a bachelor's degree in political science/prelaw with a minor in communications from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Asked what she is looking forward to, Morgan said, "Everything; it's nice to meet new people and have new challenges.
"I'm really excited to be here and am looking forward to the challenges ahead," she said.
Because the clerk's office handles many requests from the public, Morgan said she already has found that the hardest part of the clerk's job is trying to make everyone happy all the time.
When she is not sitting behind a desk, Morgan is often outside jogging or hiking with her husband, Jason, with little Miley riding along.
Before Miley was born, New Berlin's new municipal clerk competed in two triathlons. They involved a 3.5-mile run, a 13-mile bike ride and a mile swim. Both triathlons were held in Kenosha.
Acknowledging that she is goal-oriented, Morgan said she likes training for triathlons and hopes to get back to that soon. Time has been the stumbling block
"It's just hard to fit it in," she said of the rigorous training.
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