Carbon County has hired a new election director, but voters may also see a familiar face leading up to the primaries.

On Thursday, the board of commissioners approved the hiring of Jennifer M. Ketchledge of Weissport as the new director, effective March 13. Ketchledge previously worked in the county public defender’s office and left the position last March. She also serves as the Weissport borough secretary, a position she has held since March 2020.

The commissioners said that they had about nine candidates interview for the position and Ketchledge showed a solid background.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said that even if a candidate had worked in the election office before, there have been many changes to the laws in recent years, which means that while the person would have the basic knowledge of running an election, there would still be a learning curve.

“I think the person we hired, she can deflect things pretty good and she looks like she has very good management skills to run the department,” he said.

To help get Ketchledge trained, the commissioners also, in a 2-1 vote, approved a consultant agreement with Lisa Dart, former election director, to provide training and assistance to the office on an as-needed basis through May 31.

Dart will be paid $100 per hour for no more than a maximum of 60 hours per month.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich, who cast the sole no vote on the motion, said he vote wasn’t because it was Dart, rather because of the fee for the contract.

“We’re in a vicious cycle of excessive contracting fees compared to what they were being paid salary wise,” he said, noting that recent consultant contracts with former employees have had higher rates than he would like to see. “Somehow, due to decisions that we made, we’re paying individuals three, four times their actual salary rate to serve as contractors.”

Lukasevich added that while he doesn’t agree with the high rates, the county is in a tough position because the people the county is contracting with “have so much historical knowledge of how the county operates.”

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that the elections department is currently down to one employee until Ketchledge starts so the county is currently “over a barrel” and they need to make sure the election is done right.

Earlier this year, both Dart, as well as assistant director Carol Etheridge, resigned from the office, leaving only longtime employee, Jane Krebs left to handle day-to-day operations.

Lukasevich said two additional positions are being advertised in the election department. They are for seasonal workers, meaning that the people would work up to 35 hours per week from March through May 31 and again from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30.

These workers would help perform elections office tasks leading up to and following each election.

For more information, visit www.carboncountypa.gov/services/employment_opportunities.

In other election business, the monthly meeting of the election board for next Thursday has been canceled and will be rescheduled for a later time.