The head of Schuylkill County’s election bureau is retiring after more than 40 years in county government.

Frannie Brennan, director of the Schuylkill County Election Bureau, plans to retire June 12.

The Schuylkill County Commissioners approved her retirement at their regular meeting on Wednesday.

The commissioners complimented Brennan’s dedication to leading the election bureau through many changes.

“She’s definitely put her heart and soul into it, and made sure everything was correct and to the ‘T’ in her tenure,” said Commissioner Gary Hess.

Brennan wasn’t available for comment Wednesday.

The recent primary election presented a greater challenge than any in recent history due to COVID-19. For the first time, the election bureau had to count thousands of vote by mail ballots. Polling places were being moved and poll workers were being lined up a week before the election. Even before that, the county was implementing new voting machines.

Brennan showed leadership through it all, they said.

“One variable would have been crazy, but there were 4-5 things going on at a time,” said Commissioner Barron “Boots” Hetherington.

They fondly recalled Brennan’s wit, how she’d refer to complicated situations as a “hot mess.”

“It was a hot mess, but that mess would be gone. She would deal with it, and move onto the next thing,” Hess said.