LINCOLN- The retirement of long-time Clerk of the Legislature Patrick O'Donnell has opened up the chance for some interesting changes to the administrative office, and also some new, unforeseen challenges.

Thus far, three candidates have already applied for the post, and a finalist will be selected by the Legislature's Executive Board. However, five of the nine voting members on the Executive Committee won't be around anymore to cast their vote come January 4th, the start of the new Legislative session.

Because of this, State Sen. Dan Hughes described the situation as "awkward", and stated that "it's up to the next Legislature to approve a new Clerk."

State Sen. John McCollister, a current member of the Executive Board, recommended that the Legislature hire a new Clerk prior to the beginning of the next session to ensure that a "functioning" Clerk is in place.

Sen. McCollister went on to say that hiring a new Clerk soon, rather than later, would help avoid some potential "political wrangling" that may come about since the new Legislature is expected to be "a different kind of body."

Fourteen new senators will be seated on January 4th, with many expecting a conservative shift in light of this week's election results.

McCollister, an independent Republican who has criticized former President Donald Trump in the past, has gotten the cold shoulder on several occasions from his party members, leading him to believe that he may not have the clout to hire a new clerk before January 4th.

However, McCollister argued that the Executive Board has the authority to operate "on its own" when the Legislature is not in session, so he may be able to rush the selection of a new Clerk.

Sen. Hughes, on the other hand, stated that his goal "for the good of the institution" is to have a clerk finalist who can be unanimously selected by the nine-member Executive Board.

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