NEW CUMBERLAND — Hancock County is guaranteed to have a new county clerk following the May 10 election, but no matter the result, it will be someone familiar with the operations of the office.

Valerie Truax and Karan Valenti, both Republicans from Weirton, are facing off to fill the post currently held by George Foley.

There are no Democratic candidates for the office listed on the ballot.

Both candidates are long-time employees of the County Clerk’s Office. Truax has 16 years of experience, including serving as chief deputy during the last seven years and managing day-to-day duties of the office, serving as secretary at county commission meetings, working with the Elections Office and preparing monthly reports. Valenti has worked in the Elections Office for more than three years, overseeing three primary and three general elections and two special elections, and nine years in the Finance Department where she has worked on the 25 funds controlled by the county accounting for approximately $12 million annually, as well as securing and issuing necessary forms for all vendors.

If elected, Valenti has pledged “to protect, preserve and maintain the county records as well as maintain an honest election process and accurate voter records,” and to keep the county’s “integrity and accountability by maintaining clear and accurate financial records while providing the utmost accurate and professional service to our customers and colleagues.”

Truax, meanwhile, aims to make more of the county’s documents available digitally and online.

“In such I intend to scan more of our older documents so that researchers can continue to search without having to come into the office and make these records more available to the public at home.”

Truax said she also would like to make payment for in-office services available with credit or debit cards and she also would like to make free veteran ID cards available to all Hancock County veterans who register their DD214 with the county.

Both candidates agree a lack of jobs, especially industrial operations, and keeping younger residents in the area are the biggest concerns facing the community.

When it comes to concerns of cybersecurity, Truax notes the Hancock County Courthouse has an internal IT department, and employees take precautions when visiting websites. Online services are secure so passwords and credit card information cannot be intercepted.

Valenti said she would like to take additional steps to ensure protection of information.

“My goal is to establish a property fraud alert system to protect the county’s residents against mortgage and deed fraud,” she said. “I will also maintain a fair and accurate election process by continuing to support offline elections so that no voting equipment will be connected to the internet. This will provide voter confidence in the election process.”

Truax is the oldest child of Fred and Katherine Cacace, a graduate of Weirton Madonna High School and Fairmont State University. She is married to Steven Truax.

Valenti is the daughter of Bucky and Dorothy Baier, the widow of Bobby Valenti and mother to Kayla, Matthew and Robby.

Early voting for the May 10 election is available in Hancock County from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, and will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday. The polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 pm. on election day.