Julie Yates
Pryor voters will chose the city clerk and council members in three wards Tuesday. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Last week, candidates for council wards were introduced. This week, city clerk candidates are highlighted.
Voters may vote absentee Monday, March 2. Voters may stop by the Mayes County Courthouse to cast their ballot from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Following is a list of Pryor polling places:
Precinct 21, Agriculture building at Mayes County Fairgrounds, east of Pryor on old Highway 20
Precinct 101, First Christian Church Youth Center, 105 N. Vann
Precinct 121, First Freewill Baptist Church, 107 S. Ora
Precinct 132, Pryor Church of Christ, 605 S. Coo-Y-Yah
Precinct 241, St. Mark Catholic Church, 1507 S. Vann
Precinct 242, Heritage Southern Baptist Church, 1201 S. Elliott
Rose Craig
Rose Craig is running against incumbent Eva Smith for city clerk.
Born in Michigan, Craig has lived in Pryor since 1981. She stepped into community work shortly after moving to the area.
Craig, 49, said she has “always been interested in the position” of city clerk. She ran for city clerk over 10 years ago when Pat Morgan retired.
“I have no doubt that I can do the job,” she said. “I’m anxious to serve
the city in a different capacity.”
Though she loves her job at the rec center, Craig said her decision to run for city clerk is partially based on finances.
“My goal is to have a good working relationship with all the city departments,” said Craig.
As city clerk, Craig said she wants to be accessible to citizens as well as the city employees. She will make sure records are well organized and easy to find.
Craig has no plans for drastic changes in the office of city clerk.
“Running this time has been a humbling experience,” said Craig.
Craig said many people have stopped by to express their support and encouragement.
“It has helped me campaign,” she said.
Craig works at Pryor Creek Recreation Center as an office manager. She handles payroll, purchase orders, billing and employee scheduling. Craig supervises staff and steps in when PCRC Director Shane Simpson is gone. She has served as interim director at the rec center.
Craig said she has a good working relationship with the staff at the rec center. She said she and other staff members share a mutual respect. Craig would like “the same relationship with the staff at city hall.”
Craig’s past prof-essional experience includes 15 years in dentistry. During those years, she managed a dental office in Claremore.
Craig currently serves on the planning and zoning committee for the City of Pryor. She has been on the committee for 14 years and chaired for six years.
Craig’s other com-munity involvements include Relay For Life and a breast cancer research group called the Sister Study.
Craig is a member of St. Mark Catholic Church. She serves on the parish council and the planning committee for the church. She is
the youth director and
religious education
coordinator.
Craig worked as a
single mother and raised two children. Her daughter is a full time college student. Her son works as a jailer for the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office and attends college. Craig has two grandchildren.
Eva Smith
Pryor City Clerk Eva Smith is running for re-election.
Smith has lived in Pryor her entire life. She has served as the city clerk for 12 years.
“One of our priorities is to serve the public,” Smith said. “This is their office.”
Smith said the city clerk’s office tries to take care of customers in an efficient, friendly manner.
“Make the people happy,” she said. “That’s what we want to do.”
Smith said the office has made a change in software to make their system more user friendly. She said she will “implement anything that will make the office more efficient.”
Smith said she is working to get all city records scanned and stored
electronically through Laserfiche. Laserfiche stores public city records so no data will be lost
in the event of a local
disaster.
Smith has worked in clerical positions for a number of years.
“I really like this job,” she said. “We have a really good group.”
Before becoming city clerk, Smith worked for the county eight years in the county clerk’s office and the county assessor’s office. She worked for a bank and a chiropractor’s office. While her daughters were growing up she worked part time at Walmart.
Smith is married to Loyd and they have three grown daughters and three grandsons.
