In unusual move, Clerk/Auditor Jess Bradfield switches to part-time employment with Cache County

Cache County Clerk/Auditor Jess Bradfield announced Tuesday that he is willing to forgo county compensation in his bid to to transition to part-time employment with Cache County.

CACHE COUNTY — The first casualty of the ongoing feud between the Cache County Council and other elected officials here is County Clerk/Auditor Jess Bradfield.

After being re-elected to his post on Nov. 8, Bradfield announced this week that he was switching to part-time employment by the county.

“My hope in going to part-time status,” he explained, “is that we can use the $160,000 of my total compensation package, including benefits and 401K, for needed items like election equipment.”

Moving to part-time status is justified under the Cache County code, according to Bradfield, which states “… if the County officer gives notice that he or she chooses to work … less than 30 hours per week, in which case the part-time salary will be an hourly wage based upon the prorated amount of the full-time salary.

“The County officer may not receive other compensatory benefits unless approved by the County Council.”

Bradfield said that he plans to retain his elected position, working about 8 to 16 hours per week.

“I’ll come in early in the morning,” he said, “to make lists of tasks that need to be accomplished. But I’m turning the day-to-day operation of the Clerk/Auditor’s Office over to my chief deputy, Bryson Behm.”

Those routine functions of the Clerk/Auditor’s Office include issuing marriage and business licenses; handling Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) requests; tax administration; and, other duties.

Bradfield was selected by the Cache County GOP to fill out the unexpired term of long-time County Clerk Jill Zollinger in September of 2020. Despite a mass-exodus of former clerk’s office employees after his appointment and a rocky relationship with the members of the Cache County Council, Bradfield said he is proud of the work that has been accomplished to modernize his office.

“We worked for two years to build up this team,” he boasted, “training them to be top talent among clerk/auditor’s offices.

“I believe they are now the most capable team in the entire state … What they don’t need now is another highly-compensated administrator looking over their shoulders.”

Bradfield, a former member of the Logan City Council who gave up a lucrative position in human resources to joint the Cache County staff, will now return to that field for full-time employment with a national industry.

“My expectations when I became clerk/auditor is that I would be treated fairly along with other county employees.

“When the county council voted to block anyone associated with (County Executive) David Zook from getting a salary increase three times in a row earlier this year,” Bradfield recalled, “it created a hardship for my family due to rising inflation.

“Recently, I was offered a full-time position elsewhere in the human resources field,” he added. “Since I was already used to working 60 to 80 hours per week, that will work out nicely.”

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21 Comments

  • Mea culpa December 2, 2022 at 1:40 pm Reply

    Good for you, family first.

  • Lisa Admundson December 2, 2022 at 1:54 pm Reply

    Now that the 2 most dysfunctional members of the council are gone maybe things can get back to a more professional way of operating the county offices.

  • Marc K Ensign December 2, 2022 at 2:04 pm Reply

    I think a compensation package totaling $160,000/annually is more than enough to compensate a full-time County clerk. If Jess has more lucrative options, then he should do the right thing and resign before pursuing them, allowing someone else to devote their full time and attention to serving the people of Cache County. It is a slap in the face to our residents to put them second to another occupation, no matter the salary.

    • Joe blow December 3, 2022 at 8:48 am Reply

      How much are you pulling in a year? Sure hope that you don’t drop to part times as well.

    • Sure December 3, 2022 at 11:39 am Reply

      You mean someone like Gina Worthen? That is such a great idea! (sarcasm)

    • Teri December 3, 2022 at 5:54 pm Reply

      Agree

  • Roger December 2, 2022 at 2:32 pm Reply

    The shenanigans of the toddlers on the county council have contributed greatly to the mass exodus of employees from Cache County

  • Blaw December 2, 2022 at 2:34 pm Reply

    Hardship for your family when your compensation package is $160,000? Wow, I wish I had that kind of hardship.

  • skeetr December 2, 2022 at 5:12 pm Reply

    i also am feelin the pinch of my measly $160,000 salary plus bennys. i can barely afford my third gardener, and the weekly massages have had to be moved to biweekly.

  • Ttunac December 2, 2022 at 9:30 pm Reply

    Why doesn’t this salary match the the one posted on the county website?

    • LoganGuy December 3, 2022 at 2:28 pm Reply

      He seems to say the $160,000 is his salary and benefits not just salary. What does the website say?

    • Ttunac December 4, 2022 at 10:47 pm Reply

      Sock Puppet ^

  • Former County Employee December 2, 2022 at 11:42 pm Reply

    With Mr.Bradfield leaving part time I hope this Bryson kid gets a raise himself. If he’s doing the Clerk/Auditors job then maybe some of Bradfield’s salary should go to him. Seems to me Bradfield is trying to double dip.

  • SPF December 3, 2022 at 7:21 am Reply

    “What they don’t need now is another highly-compensated administrator looking over their shoulders.” Quote from Jesse Bradfield.
    But he also state because council was debating his raise it put a burden on his family? It appears he is overcompensated and Council was right, because he can reduce to an hourly rate and still do the same job, he was getting paid to do for 40 hours.
    So he is still highly compensated, wish my sideline hobby paid that well. Politics does pay well?
    Sad our taxpayer dollars are so misused, Council was obviously correct in their assessment of Zook and Bradfield, they do not look out for the citizens of Cache County, they have there own interests.
    The rumors of them lining their own pockets at the expense of Cache County Residents is evident. Next we will see Zook taking part time job with his developer associates.

  • IMCONSERVATIVE December 3, 2022 at 1:14 pm Reply

    I am a Conservative Republican and have to say I am very disappointed in Bradfield’s comments and decision.

    He needs a pay raise because of inflation? He knows where that raise would come from, we the taxpayers, who also are being impacted by inflation. So while our taxes go up to pay for his pay raise which makes things harder on us, he and his family will be okay. He didn’t get his pay raise, so he went out and found a better paying job. Good for him! But he should do the right thing and resign and move on. I think there are a number of equally or better qualified people in Cache County who would love to have a total compensation package of $160,000 a year, and would devote all of their time to managing their office.

  • Lucy Peterson watkins December 3, 2022 at 3:29 pm Reply

    Good grief! $160,000/year–how much will he make part time?

    • Ttunac December 4, 2022 at 12:22 pm Reply

      Cut all elected official pay! Let’s see who really wants to be a “public servant”. Tax money is not fun money!

      • Ttunac December 4, 2022 at 2:21 pm Reply

        Sock puppet ^

    • Jim Jones December 4, 2022 at 2:45 pm Reply

      $80,000 a year or so, but if he can do it part time. Why is this a full time position?

  • Jim jones December 3, 2022 at 5:50 pm Reply

    Bradfield has now become the #1 cachehole. He needs to go.

  • Zed December 5, 2022 at 8:03 pm Reply

    We need to recall this tool! He must have church protection.

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