Ketchem seeking clerk of courts post
Robin Ketchem of Waynesburg recently announced that she will be a candidate on the Democrat ticket this spring for Greene County clerk of courts. Ketchem, 45, a lifelong resident of Greene County, is a daughter of Richard (Ick) Hamilton and the late Sonja Hamilton.
She is a 1983 graduate of West Greene High School and has been a Greene County employee for more than 26 years.
She began her career in 1984 in the county prothonotary’s office, and in 1986 transferred to the county sheriff’s office and served under the late Remo Bertugli.
After Richard Ketchem was elected sheriff in 1989, he appointed Robin Ketchem as a deputy sheriff in 1991. The two are now married.
She graduated from the Deputy Sheriff’s Academy, which was held at the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle.
Robin Ketchem currently holds the position of captain in the sheriff’s office and is responsible for the civil division, which entails managing the daily operations of the office.
She works with Chief Deputy David Patterson, who is in charge of the criminal division of the office in assigning duties to the deputies.
Robin Ketchem said her greatest accomplishment in the office is being the first certified female deputy sheriff in Greene County history.
To date, there have been only three females appointed to the position.
“For the past 26 years, I have been serving Greene County as an employee of an elected official,” she said. “I have made a decision that with my years of experience in public service working closely with many offices and departments of the county, especially the courthouse, I am ready to take on the challenge of becoming an elected official by running for the office of clerk of courts.
“If I had to give a title to my campaign, or what the most important goal I want to accomplish, it is ‘service above self,'” she added. “I want the residents of Greene County to know that I am here to serve them and want nothing in return other than knowing I have done for them what they have entrusted me to do, which is to serve them with dedication, honesty and pride.”
She is in her second term as a Democrat committeewoman for Franklin Township-South. She is vice president of the Greene County Democrat Women and was selected for the 2010-2011 National Association of Professional Women.
She is a member of the Women of the Moose Chapter 888 and ABATE of Pennsylvania and she is a member of First United Methodist Church in Waynesburg.
In her spare time, she said, she enjoys playing dartball, singing in her church choir and playing in the bell choir. She also likes traveling and riding motorcycle, belongs to a bowling league and most of all spending time with family and friends.
Robin and Richard Ketchem have a son, Joshua Cook, who is employed by Emerald Mine and belongs to United Mine Workers Local 2258.