Hooper resigns from elections office post

The county elections department will see some changes in the days ahead as Elections Supervisor Debbie Hooper is leaving her position, with today being her last day.

“Fifteen-and-a-half years with the county and going to a new job,” Hooper told the Gazette.

Prior to her employment with the county, Hooper worked for the Palouse Rock Lake Conservation District. She said she has now taken a job in Pullman.

“It’s just time for me to go,” she said.

Hooper said that overall her time in the elections department was enjoyable, though some things were difficult.

“It’s a very stressful job, a very controversial job,” she said. “People’s emotions run high with elections.”

Another thing that sometimes made her job difficult was election laws.

“How many elections laws can change from year to year? One year we had 300 laws change,” said Hooper. “It’s very demanding. You have to be on it at all times.”

Hooper’s departure will leave the elections office with one full-time staffer, Karen Bafus.

Hooper promised one thing before her departure:

“I’ll be a nice voter if they lose my ballot!”

County Auditor Eunice Coker could not be reached for comment about the hiring process and timeline for filling the vacated position.