Sharon Brooks enters Sebastian County Clerk race

The race for Sebastian County Clerk will not go uncontested.

Sharon Brooks, 48, announced Friday she will run as a Republican for the post in the 2010 race.

Brooks, who has almost 20 years experience in county government, will face Angie Hatwig, the chief deputy clerk under Sebastian County Clerk Doris Tate. Hatwig is running as a Democrat.

Tate is running as a Democrat for the Arkansas Secretary of State office, meaning the race for the important county post will be without an incumbent for the first time in almost 20 years.

Brooks worked five years as a probate clerk in the Sebastian County Clerk’s office, eight years as assistant comptroller for the county, and the past six years has worked as the senior deputy tax collector for the county.

She is a 2007 graduate of the Citizens Police Academy, a 2008 graduate of the City of Fort Smith Citizens academy and 2009 graduate of the Fort Smith Fire department Citizens Academy.

“I see this as an opportunity to come full circle in my desire to serve the great citizens of Sebastian County,” Brooks noted in a statement. “I envision and will work to bring a user friendly system to the County Clerk’s office that will allow the public to access and research online records as well as election information.”

Brooks is a 20-year resident of Fort Smith. She is married to Carter Brooks Jr. and they have four children.

“We are pleased to have her as a Republican candidate for the office,” said Rex Terry, chairman of the Sebastian County Republican Party. “She’s well qualified and will continue to serve the people of this county very well.”