Clark is the first woman as well as the first African-American mayor of Covington. She did not realize the magnitude of such an occurrence until the community and the media began responding to her appointment as mayor that the importance of her role began to sink in.

"It's overwhelming, it's humbling and it's very different. But it feels pretty good. It brings attention to our area in ways I have never expected."

Clark is also the Education Director at H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Excel) on Mercer Street in Covington. In her role at H.O.P.E. Clark helps children with homework, Math and English skills, cognitive skills and helps prepare children for pre-school.

Clark says what she feels now is pressure and not pressure in its negative sense per se, but the pressure of realizing "every decision we make leaves a legacy".

"I'm looking for great things out of Covington. We don't want to change everything, but we welcome new ideas and new thoughts," Clark said. She said the city needs to make a priority of keeping jobs, and citizens in the Alleghany Highlands.

"We need to make sure small businesses make it because that's the future of our area," Clark said. As for consolidation, "We have different opinions but we all want to keep jobs, have better schools and opportunities for keeping our young people here at home".

Clark is dismayed at the amount of people who have to leave the area in order to find a good job. Economic development, Clark said, should be a community effort. "It's not an 'I' thing but a 'we' thing," she noted.

She is happy to represent Covington and mark this footnote in the city's history. "I wouldn't have rather made history anywhere but right here. I can't think of a better place or a better time to be in Covington."

Source: Virginian Review - Saturdau, July 26, 2008