Awhile back when Guilford County government needed an interim manager for about two weeks, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners picked Clerk to the Board Robin Keller for that position. The headline we ran in the Rhino Times was “From Lowly Clerk To Top Of The Guilford County Government Heap,” which we thought was fairly humorous.
However, we heard an earful from clerks around the state and from others that it was a very bad headline because clerks are extremely high up on the local government chain and do vital work.
The Rhino Times is in reality well aware of the importance of clerks and, while Guilford County is run by Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Skip Alston, Keller, the clerk, also has a great deal of power.
That’s why the naming of a new clerk for the City of Greensboro is so important.
The City of Greensboro has announced that Tory Frink will take over as city clerk effective Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Frink has been Clerk to the Board of Commissioners in Alamance County for a decade and a half – since November 2010 – and now brings that experience to Greensboro’s Legislative Department, also known as the Office of the City Clerk.
Greensboro City Manager Trey Davis had high praise for Frink this week.
“Ms. Frink is a welcome addition to the City of Greensboro, and brings extensive professional clerk experience,” he said. “We look forward to the leadership, insight, and dedication she will bring to the department. The city will benefit from her Master Clerk certifications on both the local and state levels.”
In her new role, Frink will oversee a wide range of critical functions. The clerk’s office manages the agenda-preparation process for City Council meetings, maintains and updates the Greensboro Code of Ordinances, and serves as the custodian of the city’s organizational records.
Clerks are also the official record-keepers of government business – making sure meetings are properly documented and that elected officials and the public have access to accurate records. They also have some soft power for how the local government’s business is conducted, even if they don’t have an actual vote.
Frink said, “I’m looking forward to making the transition from county to municipal government and being a resource to the mayor, City Council, and my peers on the senior leadership team. It will also be rewarding to work with members of the city’s various boards and commissions, while serving the residents of Greensboro.”
Frink holds a Bachelor of Science in community and justice studies and a Paralegal Certificate from Guilford College.
She has also earned North Carolina Master County Clerk status and Master Municipal Clerk certification from the UNC School of Government and the North Carolina Association of Municipal Clerks.
