SUSAN KIRK A LADY OF FAIRNESS AND INTERGRITY

SUSAN KIRK USES A COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS

By Staff Of the City-County Observer

At the end of this year, a political fixture for over a half-century at the Vanderburgh County Civic Center, Susan Kirk will officially retire.

Susie Kirk, the current Vanderburgh County Treasurer, told us about why she wanted to run for office over a half a century ago. “I wanted to make a difference. I want to always serve the people in a fair and honest way. I think fair and honest show you care.”

Throughout her political career, Susan Kirk took a common-sense approach to government spending. “I think all of the government needs to prioritize spending. When you have no money, you just need to maintain what you have. On the federal level, I think everything should pass on its own merits, with no attachments. As far as Vanderburgh County goes, I think, compared to a lot of other counties, we are doing pretty good.”

She doesn’t get involved in political matters surrounding her office. She just does her job and follows the laws and regulations set by the state. There’s no political grandstanding in her eyes. She does her job with fairness and integrity, or as she puts it, the way it’s supposed to be done.

Susan grew up with an understanding of what politics were supposed to be about. Her father, Frank Tilford, who was elected to serve as Vanderburgh County Treasurer, previously ran for County Commissioner. She was in the eighth grade when she said her father was asked by the Republican Party to run for commissioner. “I remember going door to door talking to people to help get my father elected. Dad was running against Shirley Cox that year. It was an odd time for the party because it was split in two. Of course, my dad lost the election, but a couple of years later, he ran for County Treasurer and won.”

Susan’s political career began in 1968. At the time, she was working as a dental assistant. Remembering that May and November are typically busy times in the County Treasurer’s Office, she recalled the time her father asked her to come work for him. While she was doing that part-time, she was offered a full-time position as a secretary at The Centre. “That was such a boring job. I looked forward to seeing that janitor,” she said with a chuckle.

When Shirley Cox was elected Clerk, she asked Susan to come to work for her in the Election Office. Susan leaped at the chance. She talked about all she had seen as an Election Office employee. She said that during the week of the elections she would go into the office on Monday morning and wouldn’t go home until Wednesday.

She learned early on from her father, the fundamentals of the County government, and the importance of maintaining your integrity as a public servant.  My father always told me “Don’t ever do anything you know isn’t right because there are people who will find out and hold it over your head to get you to do other things that aren’t right.” She said that was the best advice she ever received and lives by it still today!

Susan was the Vanderburgh County Clerk over 16 years ago. The Clerk’s office is the largest County office in local government with 50 plus employees. While County Clerk, Susan’s duties as Vanderburgh County Clerk included managing the Election Office. She was instrumental in saving the county over $200,000 when she discovered the company providing the support services for the voting machines were overcharging. Susie also successfully piloted the projects of early voting in libraries and the use of voting centers so voters could cast their ballots at any of the voting centers throughout the city and county.

As the current Vanderburgh County Treasurer, she has implemented a new way to receive tax bills. You can now receive them by email.

Even though Susie has always taken a common-sense approach when it comes to her government responsibilities does not mean that she is a boring person. Susie is adventurous and family-oriented. She is the proud mother to Wayne and grandmother of two grandchildren, Emma & Everett. Lest not we forget about her two canine pride and joys – Cali and Dexter.

She has a certificate for a tandem jump from her skydiving adventure, riding her Yamaha motor cycle with her dog strapped to her back, she scored a Hole in One during an Indiana Women’s Golf Association event at Quail Crossing Golf Club. And to top that off  she drove drag racing cars at Chandler Raceway with her favorite car being a 1969 Dodge Dart.

Upon her retirement, Susie Kirk leaves a legacy in the Evansville community and government that will be long remembered as successfully achieving the reason she got into politics over a half century ago – To Serve The People in a Fair and Honest Way!

  Awards And Accomplishments By SUSAN KIRK:

Offices Held:

Vanderburgh County Clerk

Superintendent of Elections

Voter Registration Manager

Community Development Coordinator for DMD

Vanderburgh County Treasurer – Currently

Honors And Awards : 

Sagamore of the Wabash – 1986 by Gov Robt Orr.

Republican of the Year – 2019 Vanderburgh County Republican Party.