COLORFUL CLAY POLITICIAN IS DEAD - "Wide Glide" Sirk Earned His Titles

(09/28/2005)

By Bob Weaver One of Clay County's most colorful political figures has died. Earnie Sirk, 57 (pictured left), a long-time Democrat Executive Committee member was found dead at his Ivydale residence. Andy Waddell, editor of the Clay Communicator, said Sirk earned his titles - Osama bin Sirk or Wide Glide Sirk. "Sirk was a politician who employed every trick, some really underhanded, to get his man elected," said Waddell. "Sitting on his broken down couch up at Ivydale, he would come up with novel ways to turn an election." Sirk would manufacture notorious lapel buttons or falsify a candidates name with the wrong political party. Sometimes he would come up with an off-color slogan to use against his opponent. Waddell said he would act like he was supporting one candidate, only to go behind their back and work against them. "He could manufacture the best rumors," Waddell said. "He was really a word-smith, crafting words, making what was really a rumor sound real." Waddell said year after year, before election time, he would call up and say, " Election is coming, so don't believe one thing I do or say for the next 12 months!" "The next day he would call and give me a spin, which nearly always sounded good, but I knew not to believe it," said Waddell. Sirk was always a player in county elections, but failed to get elected to public office himself The Clay County Free Press once reported that Sirk was able to collect his disability when the shovel handle he was leaning on broke. He had been a Department of Highways worker. Sirk, who failed to get elected to public office after several attempts, said "I am a trusted public official - a notary public, a position which I guard." Ivydale residents were angered yesterday that Clay Sheriff Randy Holcomb and a deputy removed Sirk's private possessions from his residence, including a safe that was bolted to the wall, a coin collection and guns. Holcomb could not be reached for comment. Sirk's remains were cremated and dusted from the Ivydale Bridge into the Mighty Elk.

Hur Herald ®from Sunny Cal The information on these pages, to the extent the law allows, remains the exclusive property of Bob Weaver and Dianne Weaver The Hur Herald. All information may be freely used but must not be sold or used in any type of commercial endeavor, or used on any web site without the express permission of the owners ©Bob and Dianne Weaver, The Hur Herald, 1999, 2000, 2001