Crenshaw makes historical vote on Pittsburg County Commission
Mar. 5—Sandra Crenshaw quietly made history Monday when she cast her first vote as a member of the Pittsburg County Commission.
Crenshaw is believed to be the first woman ever to cast a vote as a member of the Pittsburg County Commission, which she did during the commissioners' regular Monday meeting at the Pittsburg County Courthouse.
Asked by the News-Capital if she is indeed the first woman to cast a vote representing a Pittsburg County Commission district — in this case District 2 — Crenshaw seemed surprised for a couple of seconds by the question.
"I hadn't thought about it," she said.
"I guess I am."
County Commission Chairman/District 3 Commissioner Ross Selman and District 1 Commissioner Charlie Rogers both said they were not aware of any woman previously serving as a member of the Pittsburg County Board of Commissioners.
Crenshaw said she is not serving as acting District 2 County Commissioner, nor is she serving as interim commissioner until the next election.
Rather, she is representing Pittsburg County District 2 in her ongoing capacity as the District 2 chief deputy.
Pittsburg County Clerk Hope Trammell said state statues allow for a chief deputy to represent a county commission district, with full voting powers on the three-member commission, in the stead of a county commissioner.
Crenshaw's first votes Monday were procedural, including votes to approve the county commission meeting agenda and to approve minutes of two previous meetings.
She is representing the Pittsburg County District 2 post in the wake of Kevin Smith's retirement from the seat, effective Feb. 29, after serving more than 19 years in office.
A special election to fill the District 2 county commission seat will not be necessary, since the District 2 post is coming up for a regularly-scheduled election this year.
The filing period for the District 2 seat, as well as four other county offices, begins in April.
They include the offices of Pittsburg County sheriff, Pittsburg County clerk and Pittsburg County court clerk.
A Special Election for the post left vacant by the resignation of Pittsburg County Assessor Michelle Fields will also be on the 2024 ballot, and will be held at the same time as the other county elections.
Commissioners previously appointed then-Assessor's First Deputy Cathy Ridenour to serve as interim Pittsburg County assessor until a new assessor is elected.
A three-day filing period for the District 2 county commissioner's post, the county assessor's office and the other three county offices up for election in 2024 is set for April 3-5, 2024, at the Pittsburg County Election Board Office.
A Special Primary Election for the county offices is set for June 18, followed by a Special Runoff Election on Aug. 27, if necessary, and a Nov. 5 General Election, also if needed.
