Bridgeport has a new employee in one of its most critical and public positions. Recently, Amy Eakle took over the duties as the new Bridgeport City Clerk.

 

Eakle has taken over the position formerly held by Andrea Kerr. Kerr stepped down to take over the position of Community Development Director.

 

City Manager Kim Haws formally welcomed her to the city during Monday’s Bridgeport City Council meeting. However, she has been on the job and learning what needs to be done since the middle of January.

 

If the name sounds familiar and the face does as well, there’s a reason for that beyond the fact she lives here locally with her family. Eakle has spent the last five years working at the Bridgeport Public Library in another position where she dealt with the public.

 

Haws said that her ability to deal with the community was a big reason she was hired for the job.

 

“Amy is extremely friendly, open with the public and has excellent manners, which is key for the position,” said Haws. “She possesses a lot of great technical skills as well so we feel very fortunate to have found her.”

 

Eakle found out about the position being open through her employment at the library. From there, she threw her hat into the ring.

 

“This was something that I was interested in and I knew Andrea was still going to be here. That’s a big reason that I went ahead because this is something I’ve never done before,” said Eakle. “Having her here is a great resource and this was a job opportunity that I wanted to explore and it’s been a great experience already.”

 

While Eakle doesn’t come with a city clerk background, Kerr took the position in the same manner. Haws said that, along with still having Kerr in the same building, made the decision an easier one that it might have been otherwise.

 

“It makes the transition quite smooth,” said Haws of having Kerr still available right down the hall to assist as needed. “Having watched (Eakle) perform at the library and getting a very positive recommendation from our library director (Sharon Saye) was a good thing.”

 

Eakle and her husband Matthew live on Brushy Fork. They have two children, Liam who is 16, and 11-year-old Madelynn.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Amy Eakle addressing City Council Monday after being introduced by City Manager Kim Haws. Bottom photo shows Eakle working at the public library with children during a "Story Laboratory" program on Dr. Suess.