New constitution for Clay County following vote

Residents of Clay County showed strong support for a new constitution in a vote on Election Day. Included in the approved changes will be an expansion of the number of county commission seats and a term limit.

Clay County residents voted overwhelmingly in support of a new county constitution on Election Day.

The proposed new constitution passed with just over 81-percent of the vote.

Changes to the constitution will include an expansion of the commission’s seats from three to seven members.

Along with expanding the commission, changes include term limits, a path to recalling a politician and livestream of all commissioner meetings.

Recently-elected Eastern Commissioner Megan Thompson and Western Commissioner Jon Carpenter will join the commission for the next couple of years before it expands.

The new constitution goes into effect Jan. 1, 2021 and it will take the two years before it is fully implemented.