A local woman was sworn in Monday afternoon as Dawson County’s interim clerk of courts.

The four judges of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit appointed Pam Henson, 57, who previously worked 24 years as a bookkeeper for the Hall County Clerk of Courts office.

A native of Dawson County, Henson will serve until a special election can be held to fill the position in July.   

Court Administrator Reggie Forrester said Henson’s appointment will allow the clerk of court’s office to continue running in a smooth manner, while separating the political process associated with the upcoming election.

“This appointment allows the people of Dawson County to elect the person they want to run that office on a permanent basis,” Forrester said.

Henson said she has no plans to seek the office.    

“The judges wanted someone who has no intentions of running, so it wouldn’t interfere in the running of the clerk’s office,” Henson said.

Henson has been working at the Dawson County Clerk’s office for the last six weeks to “straighten out the bookkeeping issues.”        

She succeeds Becky McCord, who resigned March 18 in the wake of a criminal investigation into money missing from the clerk of courts office.    

McCord, 61, is accused of taking more than $140,000 from a county account for passport fees.

McCord, who has served as clerk of courts since 1993, was arrested Feb. 11 on a single count of felony theft by taking.   

She was indicted in early March and waived a formal arraignment last week, entering a plea of not guilty.

On March 22, her attorney, Jeffery Talley, filed a demand for a trial by jury in Superior Court. A court date has not been set.

Qualifying for the nonpartisan special election for clerk of courts, which will be held in conjunction with the July 20 primary, is set for April 24-30.

Qualifying fees will run about $1,491.

Elections Supervisor Glenda Ferguson said Monday that eight or nine people have inquired about the position.

A runoff election, if necessary, would be held Aug. 10, Ferguson said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, only local attorney Clint Bearden had publicly announced he would seek the office.