For a brief moment Tuesday night, Tracy Bridges felt both ends of the spectrum that come with running for office and watching election results be tallied in the Putnam County Clerk of Courts race.

Bridges, the current Putnam County recorder, was initially announced as the loser against Debbie Ensor, who serves as the first deputy in the clerk’s office.

However, when the dust settled, Bridges was actually the winner, having defeated Ensor by a total of seven votes – 2,049 to 2,042 to claim the Republican ticket for the November general election.

“I’m thrilled. I was lucky to get my feet wet being an elected official in the recorder’s office. I’ve always wanted to be Clerk. I’m just thankful the voters trust me to be their next clerk,” Bridges told the Putnam County Post.

The moments on Tuesday night with confusion are actually something that Bridges hopes to clean up as clerk now.

“One of my goals is to update the entire election process. There needs to be no whiteboard, hand-written results. No one on a microphone misreading the numbers and names. That was terrible,” Bridges told the Putnam County Post.  

As was the case with the recorder’s office, Bridges will now hold an office her mother, Opal Sutherlin, once held before retiring after more than 20 years of county government service.

“My mother is a fantastic woman and I attribute my values and work ethic to her,” Bridges said.

And, the clerk race is an opportunity to continue her passions, Bridges said.

“My passions lie in the courts and elections. I have a degree in criminal justice and psychology. I am a licensed polygraph examiner. The whole criminal system is intriguing to me. I look forward to working with Holly Sullivan to further the safe and secure elections,” Bridges said.