Oswald begins her role at commission meetings

The first sign of change as a result of county clerk Pattie Bender’s impending retirement was seen last week, as Lindsay Oswald took Bender’s seat at the dais and recorded the minutes of Tuesday’s county commission meeting.
Oswald will have two more opportunities to perfect the task before Bender calls it quits June 30. Oswald, a 35-year-old Lockport Township resident, was appointed to serve the remaining 18 months of Bender’s current four-year term.
Her presence was acknowledged by Commissioner Rick Shaffer, who said “she’s done really well with her training wheels on.”
Bender attended the meeting but took a seat at the table designated for media.
Oswald, who has served as the county’s grant writer since 2013, begins the job July 1. She has indicated she plans to run for the four-year term in the August 2016 primary election.
Oswald was a 10-year employee for the city of Three Rivers, where she served as deputy clerk and eventually city clerk.
The county commission’s final meetings before Bender’s retirement are June 2 and 16.