Valerie Wyant Is Appointed As New Clerk Of The Court

By Tammy Gray-Searles
   “It’s an honor and a privilege to be appointed to fill the remainder of Juanita’s (Mann) term,” Navajo County Chief Deputy Clerk of the Court Valerie Wyant said.
   Wyant will take over as clerk of the Superior Court on Jan. 1, following the retirement of Clerk Juanita Mann. Mann’s current term as an elected official will expire at the end of 2010, but she plans to retire on Dec. 31.
   Governor Jan Brewer announced the appointment on Tuesday, noting, “It is an honor to appoint Valerie Wyant as clerk of the Superior Court for Navajo County. Ms. Wyant has numerous years of experience in the clerk’s office, during which time she has built an excellent rapport with the judges, attorneys and staff throughout the community and county. I am confident she will serve the citizens of Navajo County very well.”
   Wyant has worked in the clerk’s office for 11 years, starting as a payment clerk in 1998. She was pro-moted to courtroom clerk in 2000 and to courtroom clerk supervisor in 2004. In January 2009, Mann se-lected Wyant to serve as chief deputy clerk following the retirement of Carolyn Castillo.
   In addition to supervising staff and processing cases, Wyant has also been responsible for a software conversion during her time as chief deputy clerk. She noted that extensive preparation, including data clean-up, was necessary for the conversion, but the new system will result in faster, more accurate informa-tion for the public.
   Mann has served as clerk of the court since 1994, and has worked in the clerk’s office since 1972. An open house for the public to wish Mann well in her retirement is planned from 2 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15, in the Division II courtroom at the Navajo County complex in Holbrook.