ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, September 25, 1996 TAG: 9609250053
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
Phyllis K. Hanks, Pulaski County's voter registrar, remained on the job last week after being charged with embezzlement. And as a result of a closed-door meeting Tuesday, she will stay on the job until a court decides her case.
The three-member Pulaski County Electoral Board decided Tuesday afternoon to keep Hanks on the job, after taking into account that her office normally handles no money, and that she has already reimbursed the county for the missing money, board members said.
One member, Margaret Farris, said she disagreed with taking no action about Hanks' status.
Farris said people have expressed sentiments that Hanks, who has been registrar for the past six years and assistant registrar before that, should step down or be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.
The other board members are A.J. Smith Jr. and Don Sheffey. Smith said there have been positive comments made on Hanks' behalf, too, and complaints that news coverage has been unnecessarily critical of Hanks.
Hanks is charged with depositing three Bell Atlantic refund checks to the county, totaling $1,721, to her personal account. She is scheduled to be arraigned Monday morning in General District Court, and remains free on an unsecured $10,000 bond.
Electoral Board members said there would be a cost to the county if Hanks was placed on leave because the county would have to borrow, and pay, trained personnel from some larger office. Such a temporary registrar would also have to be paid for travel, meals and living accommodations while working in Pulaski County.
With a presidential election six weeks away, the board said in its statement, Hanks' working knowledge of the office is needed. This year's elections are complicated by a federal "Motor Voter" program placing registration forms at many governmental offices, and swamping registrars' offices with new applications.
Hanks turned herself in to the Sheriff's Office Sept. 19 after learning that warrants had been issued for her. The arrest followed an investigation lasting several weeks after the treasurer's office reported the three Bell Atlantic refund checks had not been deposited with the county.
Smith had been out of town on business until Tuesday, and the other two board members decided to delay any decision on Hanks staying in office until he got back.
An official with the state Board of Elections said decisions such as hiring and firing of registrars are local matters, and the state does not normally get involved.
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