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closeFriday, Jan. 02, 2009
Corkrum steps down after 20 years on Pasco board
By Joe Chapman, Herald staff writer
The arrival of 2009 turned a big page of history in Franklin County.
Jan. 1 was the first day since 1956 that Neva Corkrum wasn't on the county payroll.
This week, the longtime Democrat and Pasco resident finished up 20 years as a county commissioner, a record tenure for Franklin County. In all, she served the county for 521/2 years dating back to when she started out as a worker splitting time between the auditor and extension offices.
Those who worked with her say she relied on the knowledge built over those years of service to live out her commitment to the county and do what she thought was best for it.
Although Fred Bowen has held the county administrator position since 1995, he said Corkrum always was a go-to for him anytime he had questions about history or procedure.
"There's nothing like experience," he said. "So if issues came up, she remembered how it started, where it progressed from, and what the outcome could be."
In his mind, one of Corkrum's legacies will be the courthouse itself.
"When you're looking at the courthouse, you're looking at Neva Corkrum," he said.
The county in 2006 completed a two-year project to restore the old building, originally built in 1911, and paid for it in large part with a $10.2 million bond approved by the voters.
After the vote failed twice, it was Corkrum's drive that swayed one of the other commissioners, in a 2-1 vote, to go back to the voters a third time, Bowen said.
County Auditor Zona Lenhart, who has worked with Corkrum since 1974, said she always was straightforward, to the point, and wanted "an honest day's work for an honest day's pay."
"She was always a very hard worker and really had the interests of the people at heart. I don't think a lot of people realize that," Lenhart said. "She also had the interests of the employees at heart, and I definitely don't think the employees of the county realize that."
Lenhart first worked with Corkrum when they both were in the office of former Auditor Dorothy Towne. Corkrum was head of the licensing department at the time, Lenhart recalled.
But their acquaintance goes back further, to when Lenhart, now 55, was in the eighth grade at Stevens Junior High School. Corkrum's late husband, Phil, was the physical education teacher back then, and Lenhart can remember once when Corkrum came into the gym to give her husband grief over something.
"I thought, 'Oh my God, I never want to be on her bad list,' " Lenhart recalled, laughing at the memory. "And then I come to work at the courthouse, and who's my boss but his wife!"
In fact, Lenhart grew to cherish her years working with Corkrum, who preceded Lenhart as auditor before becoming a county commissioner.
"I love her, and I'm really, really gonna miss her," Lenhart said.
People beyond the county also have recognized Corkrum's civic contributions in recent weeks.
Executives of the Washington Counties Risk Pool and Washington Counties Insurance Fund -- organizations Corkrum was active with for many years -- traveled to the Franklin County Courthouse to present her a certificate of appreciation and an engraved clock early last month.
"Neva always brought to the table the idea that it was a pool and not an individual county or county situation," said David Goldsmith, member services manager for the WCRP.
Corkrum said she has enjoyed her years of service and knows she has a lot of support in the community, but otherwise declined to be interviewed for this story. She said although she knew her time in office eventually would come to an end, it has been difficult dealing with the circumstances.
She lost her bid for re-election in November to challenger Brad Peck. At 74, she said during the campaign she felt she had one more term in her.
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