Posts Tagged As: Redding CA

Some Cool County Clerks

Timothy Kincaid

June 16th, 2008

We’ve told you about the counties where the Clerks were ungracious about facilitating the marriages of gay couples. Here’s a few that are happy for us.

Sonoma County (NY Times)

Janice Atkinson, the Sonoma County clerk, said her office was planning to stay open late for the rest of the month to accommodate what she expected would be a heavy load of same-sex weddings. On Sunday, Ms. Atkinson and staff members attended a gay pride celebration in Sonoma to hand out applications for marriage licenses to prospective newlyweds.

“We’re expecting some very happy couples,” she said. “And a lot of media.”

Shasta County (Record-Searchlight)

With the change, security concerns have surfaced. After speaking with her office’s employees, as well as the two men to be wed first, Shasta County Clerk Cathy Darling’s arranged to have plainclothes officers patrol the clerk’s office area.

“As a department head, it’s my responsibility to make sure my staff feel secure and comfortable coming to work, and I think we’re there. We have what we need,” she said.

In addition, “I don’t want to put those people who come in to get a legally provided service at risk,” Darling said.

I grew up in this rural conservative county.

Alameda County (Contra-Costa Times)

Chief Clerk-Recorder for Alameda County Kevin Hing likened today’s crush of ceremonies to a typical Valentine’s Day. Ususally on a V-Day, the clerk’s office sees a good 75 to 80 licenses and weddings. And as on a V-Day, workers in the clerk’s office have set up a little “reception” area with paper plates on a table with a silver cloth in the hallway outside the wedding rooms. They have little cupcakes and brownies ready to go for the couples after they wed.

To these and all the other county clerks that are sharing joy this week, I give my thanks.

    

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