RUMFORD – Mary Anne Prue has seen a lot of changes working in the town office the past 24 years. For instance, computers have replaced paper ledgers and machines have replaced clerks counting votes.

Last week Prue retired from her job as town clerk the past 19 years by doing one of her favorite things: presiding over an election.

“It’s been a challenging job. Always something different everyday, knowing everything that is going on,” she said.

Prue remembers well the 1984 presidential election. Still using paper ballots that needed hand counting, voter turnout was great, and there were many races. Forty ballot clerks spread out the ballots and counted until 5 a.m.

“Machines are much more efficient,” she said.

People started using voting machines about 1990, which cut down considerably on the number of man-hours required to count ballots.

Before she was clerk, Prue was secretary to the town manager five years.

She is the first town clerk and treasurer in Rumford’s history to be certified by the Maine Towns and Cities Association. She spent five years earning each of these certifications.

“I have always loved my job and I’m proud to have been the town clerk and treasurer,” she said.

Before Rumford joined with SAD 43 paper records were still be used and as town clerk Prue had to keep many of the town’s school records. She also took care of hot lunch money, checked all bills from the district, and deducted taxes and insurance premiums from employee paychecks. In 1989 with the merger, that changed.

Prue has also served as Oxford County treasurer for the past seven years, something she plans to continue, at least until the end of her term in 2006.

As much as she’ll miss the people contact as town clerk, she said she believes it’s time to move on. She has other things she’d like to do, like attending her grandchildren’s activities. She’s had little time to that and they are getting older, she said.

She also wants to expand her flower garden at her Swain Road home, and perhaps she’ll do some traveling. Right now, she is planning to go to Hawaii next year.

But most of all, she’ll have a chance to relax and have more time to maintain her home, she said.

She won’t get out of town business entirely. Perhaps in the fall, she’ll apply for membership in one or more of the town’s boards and committees, she said. She also plans to do some volunteer work.

“Just serving the people is what you do as town clerk, that is your function. I’ve done this to the best of my ability. I would do it all over again,” she said.

Prue graduated from Stephens High School in 1957. She is the mother of three adult children and the grandmother of six.

Prue was a member of the Muskie Memorial Committee and is a current member of the Town Democratic Committee and Oxford County Democrats.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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