Deschutes County Clerk Nancy Blankenship announces retirement

After nearly 20 years of serving as Deschutes County Clerk, Nancy Blankenship has announced that she will retire at the end of July.

 “I’m at a point in life where I’m ready to spend time with family and friends,” Blankenship said. “It’s time to start working on the bucket list I’ve been accumulating over the years.” 

Blankenship, who oversees both elections and recording, was appointed as Deschutes County’s Clerk in 2003 and has be re-elected four times. She previously served as the City of Redmond’s recorder for 15 years.

“We thank Nancy for her steadfast leadership and more than 18 years of service to the County,” said County Administrator Tom Anderson. “She has been an incredibly knowledgeable resource for both staff and our community. We thank her for her immense contributions to our organization.”

On Wednesday, the Board of County Commissioners will consider appointing Election Supervisor Steve Dennison as interim County Clerk. If appointed, Dennison must run for office in the fall of 2022.

“You always want to leave when things are going well,” Blankenship said. “I couldn’t be happier with the team that I work with. They are excellent and I am leaving the Clerk’s Office in great hands. It is time to pass the baton to the next generation.”