ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The central committee of the Belmont County Republican Party selected a new clerk of courts to complete the term of Cynthia Fregiato, who recently retired.

Laura Zupko, court administrator for Belmont County Common Pleas Court, will be sworn in as clerk on Sept. 22. She brings experience in the workings of the courts from serving under every common pleas judge now on the bench. She will be sworn in by Common Pleas Judges John Vavra and Chris Berhalter.

“I’ve been with the court since 2006. I started out originally as a part-time employee for (Belmont County Common Pleas) Judge (John) Solovan,” she said. “I was promoted to be the court administrator in May of 2014, which I have done since then.”

Zupko says she is ready to take this next step.

“I think I can do that job well. They were looking for qualified candidates, which I think I believe I fill that … based upon my years of experience here at the court. But also prior to that I worked in Columbus for a state representative and a state senator, so I have 21 years total experience as a public servant. I felt as though between those years, I could do a good job,” she said.

“My experience with the court and how the two offices are interwoven with each other — they are separate and distinct, however they are linked. The clerk of courts is the keeper of the files for any cases that are filed in the common pleas court in the legal division,” she said. “The title division involves certificate of title for vehicles, motorcraft, trailers, things of that nature, but I think the years of experience at the court led me to this next transition.”

Zupko said she will continue the tradition and high standards of her predecessors.

“I want to continue the path set by the former clerks, Cynthia Fregiato of course and, before her, Cynthia McGee. Obviously I want to be available every day for the public. I think you need to lead by example, and I think I should be there as much as I ask of my staff, and we’ll see once I get in there if there are any things I need to take a look at and address. … (I’ll) lead by example and be willing to do as much work as I ask of the very qualified staff that are currently over there.”

Zupko will finish Fregiato’s term, which runs through December 2024.

“I would have to run and face potentially any opponents in the primary and then, thereafter, the general (election),” she said.

David Jones, chairman of the Belmont County Republican Party, said the office will be in good hands.

“It was a very close vote. We had two good candidates,” he said. “She’s familiar with the clerk of courts because she’s in there probably every day.”