Diana M. Stevenson, magistrate in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, is the new clerk of Barberton Municipal Court.But not without some drama.Stevenson, a Barberton resident, received 43 of the 59 votes cast by Summit County Republican Central Committee members residing in the Barberton court district at a meeting Saturday afternoon in the Prime at Anthe’s restaurant, 4315 Manchester Road. She was sworn in as the clerk to succeed Christine Croce, who was elected judge of the Barberton court in November. Croce, who attended the meeting, did not explicitly back Stevenson’s bid for the job. But Stevenson was the only clerk candidate with a law degree. And, while municipal court clerks are not required to have that degree, Croce said it was helpful.Stevenson also had the support of Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who had been a state representative from Green, which is part of the Barberton Court’s district.The meeting became contentious after Summit County Republican Chairman Alex Arshinkoff argued that anyone getting the clerk’s appointment could not hold a second job, either in the public or private sector.He was particularly concerned about the future electability of anyone holding the job, which pays about $97,000 a year. Stevenson will have to run for election in 2013 to complete Croce’s term, which lasts until 2015.Arshinkoff said anyone unable to get by on the clerk’s salary should not be seeking the job.But Joni Murgatroyd, fiscal officer for Coventry Township and a candidate for the clerk’s post, came to the meeting with two legal opinions declaring she could hold both jobs.The Coventry job is part time and pays Murgatroyd about $23,000 annually. But money was not the issue, she insisted. Rather, after 15 years as fiscal officer, she did not want to leave the post until a suitable replacement could be hired and she could help with the transition. And it was not clear how long that might take.Arshinkoff forcefully questioned Murgatroyd, insisting that “it’s very important for the party to have a grass-roots office like this” clerk’s position and that no voter is going to understand why someone can’t live on just the clerk’s salary.After the meeting, he noted that Stevenson was giving up her magistrate’s post to become clerk.Murgatroyd said she had been trying for two months to get details of the requirements for the clerk’s job — including by calling Arshinkoff’s office — and had not received a letter about Saturday’s meeting until the previous Tuesday. She said she was “floored” by the debate at the meeting.“This isn’t about the money for me,” she said as committee members voted. “There has to be a transition. I’ve got to close the books and get the year up and running. … That doesn’t mean I can’t do the job in both places. I can. And that’s what frustrates me, that they would go after me like this.”Arshinkoff said after the meeting that Murgatroyd “is very competent.”“But it is difficult for a human being in Summit County to hold office as a Republican in any circumstance,” he said. “And it is very difficult for a Republican to hold two offices.”Murgatroyd received nine votes. Seven went to a third candidate at the meeting, Kathy Witwer. Two other candidates, Bill Conte and Rebecca Lukats, did not attend the meeting and received no votes. Dawn Humphrys originally sought the appointment but withdrew her application Friday, saying in a letter that it was “in the party’s interest.”Stevenson said her first order of business will be “to come into the court, learn the job, talk with Christine, and see what improvements need to be made — if any.”Rich Heldenfels can be reached at 330-996-3582 or rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com.