“The office of municipal clerk [is] a time-honored and vital part of local government [and] exists throughout the world.”

This is the opening of the Proclamation read by Mayor Linda Kavanagh at the May 4 Town Council meeting recognizing May 7-13 as Municipal Clerks’ Week in Fountain Hills.

The municipal clerk is among the oldest public servants in the world and the office provides the professional link between the citizens, the local governing bodies and agencies of government.

In Fountain Hills, the job of town clerk has been held by Bevelyn Bender since 2003. She has worked for the town since 1994, starting as an administrative assistant just a few years after incorporation. In its nearly 30-year history the Town of Fountain Hills has had just two people hold the job of town clerk.

Bender was certified as a Master Municipal Clerk in 2010 and has maintained continuous certification as an election official by the Arizona Secretary of State. The elections certification is renewed every two years.

She served as president of the Arizona Municipal Clerks’ Association (AMCA) in 2016 and this year holds the honor as immediate past president.

“Municipal clerks are all about inclusiveness, impartiality, integrity and professionalism through continued education and personal development,” Bender said.

In general the clerk’s job revolves around conducting local elections, maintaining the municipality’s records and recording legislative actions, as well as required administrative functions. A clerk’s duties usually vary from municipality to municipality depending on the size of the community.

“Clerks continually strive to improve the administration of the affairs of the office of municipal clerk through participation in education programs, seminars, workshops and the annual meetings of their professional organizations,” Kavanagh states in her proclamation. “It is most appropriate that we recognize the accomplishments of the office of the municipal clerk.

“We further extend our appreciation to our Municipal Clerk Bevelyn Bender and to all municipal clerks for the vital services they perform and their exemplary dedication to the communities they represent.”

Bender said one of the most important aspects of her job is the interpersonal relationships she develops with other staff and town officials.

“Those relationships are vital to the trust you must develop to do your job,” Bender said.