By Akilah Frye

Staff writer

Isle of Wight County Clerk of Circuit Court Kathleen Torrence will retire at the end of her term on Dec. 31. 

Torrence said she looks forward to spending more time with her family. 

“My career in the clerk’s office has been both challenging and rewarding,” she said in a written statement. “I have enjoyed my time serving the citizens of this county. I feel very confident that my chief deputy, Laura Smith, who is on the ballot Nov. 7, will continue to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the clerk when she is elected.”

Elisabeth Culpepper also has filed qualifying papers to be on the November ballot. 

Torrence started her career in the clerk’s office in September 2005 and was named chief deputy clerk in 2010.  She was appointed interim clerk when former Clerk of Court Sharon Jones retired in January 2020 in the middle of an eight-year term. She was elected in November 2020 to complete the term running through this December.