Nancy Gay has been promoted to Columbia County’s elections director, succeeding the retired Deborah Marshall.

The Board of Elections named Gay, 41, formerly the county’s voter registration coordinator, to the post Monday morning, board Chairman Larry Long said.

“We recognized excellent performance and increased responsibilities (in promoting Gay),” Long said. “We’re looking forward to moving forward smoothly.”

He acknowledged that the board originally offered the position to another candidate who turned down the job.

Gay’s pay will increase from “about $40,000,” Long said, to the base pay for the director’s position at $53,717.

“It is a true honor to be given the opportunity to serve in this capacity,” Gay said. “I am a bit speechless, to be honest.”

Gay’s former position is being filled by Staci Landers, the registration/elections clerk, and Landers’ position will be posted for hiring, Long said.

Marshall, the previous elections director, retired in December. She had been on medical leave since surgery in April for a malignant brain tumor.