Although she has not turned in her formal letter, Christian County Clerk and Recorder Laurie Mense told the Christian County board Tuesday night that she intends to retire from the position November 17th. Mense originally announced she would not seek re-election in September, but now she will retire from the position with about a year left in her term.

Mense says she wanted to follow through with her term, but circumstances will not allow that to happen.

Mense says her office always has something going on, but she says the middle of November is a time where she feels a transition can be smoother.

County Board Chairman Tim Carlson announced the vacancy after Mense’s announcement, and the county will start the process for looking for a replacement. Because Mense is leaving during her term, the replacement will be a Democrat.