By Jeff Kaley
WAURIKA — To Gloria England, this is just the next logical step.
“This is the first time I’ve run for office, but I’ve worked with bosses who were elected officials for the past 20 years. This is just the first time I’ve thrown my hat in the ring, so to say,” England said, as she launched a campaign to run in the Democratic primary for Jefferson County Clerk.
England spent 10 years as secretary for District 1 county commissioner Kenny Wall, the she worked with Wall and the commissioners from District’s 2 and 3 for 10 years as county commission secretary.
“I’ve always been in the background,” the Jefferson County native said, “but that’s given me a chance to get a lot of experience and see how things work.
“I worked with (former county clerk) Doris (Pilgreen) doing different things over the years. I had wanted to run for clerk before, but I didn’t want to run against Doris, so I never filed.”
Pilgreen retired in December and was replaced by appointed County Clerk Michelle “Missy” Hall, who is running in the Democratic primary to hold the position full-time. England has worked closely with Hall during the past six months, and that relationship shapes England’s attitude toward the primary election, which will be held July 29.
“The (county clerk) position is open, and I don’t look at it as I’m running ‘against’ Missy. Missy just happens to be the person who’s running for the position, too,” England said.
A graduate of Waurika High School, England’s parents, Maxine (McCraw) and J.E. “Speck” Harrison, were long-time residents of Jefferson County. She and Harry England, the retired former owner of England Construction, have been married 44 years.
The couple have two children, Darlene Wade and David England, and six grandchildren, four of whom are students in the Waurika school district, along with two great-grandchildren.
Although she’s spent most of her 62 years in Waurika, Gloria England was a Jefferson County 4-H leader for eight years.
“Working many years with 4-H gave me a chance to know a lot of kids from all around the county,” she noted. “Most of them are young adults now.”
While she hasn’t held elected office, England felt her interaction with the county clerk’s office and other elected officials is a plus. She’s also attended several county government seminars and workshops, as well as participating in many community projects and programs.
“There’s a lot of things I need to learn about the clerk’s job,” England said. “But it’s a new kind of challenge, and I know that I can learn.”
