Matching the spirit of the new year, three new Monongalia County circuit clerk officials were sworn in Wednesday, while tearful farewells were said to retirees.
As his last official act as Monongalia County Circuit Court judge before his Dec. 31 retirement, Judge Phillip Gaujot said it was “a pleasure” to swear into office newly elected Circuit Clerk Donna Hidock as well as deputy clerks Cathy Golleher and Beth Judy.
“It’s almost surreal to me,” Hidock said. “But for myself and the office, I don’t think much is going to change administratively.”
Hidock, who will have worked in the Mon County Circuit Clerk’s office for 29 years in July, said she and the rest of the circuit clerk staff are looking forward to a really good beginning in 2023, but those moving on, deputy clerks Susan Trowbridge and Ellen Jacobs and Gaujot, will be greatly missed.
“Susan, I am going to miss you at work but mostly I am going to miss you as my friend,” Hidock said tearfully to Trowbridge who was one of the many who came to see Hidock be sworn in.
Hidock will be officially taking over the office for long-time circuit clerk Jean Friend on Jan. 3.
“They have forgotten more than I will ever know,” Hidock said of the retirees. “But I am looking forward to it and I’m excited. I’m going to do my best to do what the county expects from me.”
Hidock, who was one of the first people hired by Gaujot when he was appointed circuit judge, said she was honored to have his last official act be swearing her into office.
“That’s what I’m going to miss the most. He was comic relief for us when things got tense,” she said. “He is just such a great man and his family has done so much for me and I will never forget them for that.”
Gaujot shared the sentiment.
“She is such a good friend,” he said. “Ever since I was appointed – even before as a lawyer, she was so helpful and she is who she is, but she has become a dear friend of not only me, but my wife Carol and my boys. She’s part of the family.”
Hidock said she was overwhelmed by support from the community during her campaign and said “people that are too numerous to mention that were such a big source of support for me. I will do the county proud.”
That support showed on Wednesday as Gaujot’s courtroom filled with public officials, court staff and others who came to show their support of Hidock.
There was one person, other than her daughter and family who were unable to make it to the ceremony, that Hidock said she wished could have been there to see her sworn in – her late husband Bob.
“I’m without my Bob and it’s just really hard for me,” she said. “But I know he is here today smiling and giggling and talking really loud like he always did – but I am gonna make him proud, too.”
During the six-year term as circuit clerk, Hidock will be responsible for keeping all official records and collecting fees for the Mon County Circuit and Family courts.
As the circuit clerk, she will also be the jury administrator for the court and be responsible for the management of the petit and grand jury systems in the county.
Gaujot said he is confident Hidock is the right person to take over Friend’s multi-decade legacy as clerk.
“She will be an excellent clerk, she really will, because she is so into being precise,” the judge said. “I know everybody in the clerk’s office likes her and I know they are going to do their best to make sure she is successful.”
