The Guilford County clerk of Superior Court races historically don’t draw the kind of attention that some other races do.
However, the work is extremely important and, from time to time, the political battles to grab that office turn out to be very interesting. Next year, the race will include a Democratic primary, now that Democrat Lu-Ann Wilkinson has declared her candidacy for Guilford County clerk of Superior Court.
The December candidate filing period was closed by the North Carolina Supreme Court to hear lawsuits filed against the congressional and legislative districts drawn by the Republican North Carolina legislature. But Wilkinson publicly announced her bid for clerk of Superior Court, which will pit her against the incumbent Lisa Johnson-Tonkins, also a Democrat.
Wilkinson knows a thing or two about the job after working eight years in Guilford County’s office, beginning in 2012.
The clerk of courts office, as the name suggests, keeps track of the massive paperwork and electronic filings involved with the operations of the county’s court system. It also oversees the complex schedules that the courts maintain.
According to a Friday, Dec. 17 press release from Wilkinson, during her time in the office, she gained direct courtroom, customer service, and management experience.
The release adds that Wilkinson “knows that a strong Clerk’s office that is efficient in service, accountable for results, and compassionate to the needs of every citizen is critical to ensure that Guilford County’s judicial system is equipped to advance alongside the rest of North Carolina,” and that “Wilkinson’s vision, ability, and experience make her the perfect candidate to lead the Clerk’s office into the future. Wilkinson is ready to support staff and develop policies that meet the needs of Guilford County while bringing fresh ideas and solving complex issues as they arise.”
Reading the article, it suggests the announced challenger left employment under the tenure of the current elected Clerk of Court.
Perhaps there is more to this story than meets the eye?
Rhino Times news articles so often are published as if only half the story was put into print.
Sometimes only half the story is known. Other times, only half of the story IS the story. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Why is this job political? Shouldn’t the City Manager hire someone who has proved competent?
It’s like electing these clowns to Congress who don’t know a thing about the myriad of tasks they face. Say you are on the Finance Committee. Shouldn’t you be a CPA, an MBA, or the like?
Miller, it’s not a city job. The court is a brach of the county. But as to why it is a partisan elected position is still a good question. For the answer, look to Raleigh. Almost everything that is wrong in North Carolina can legitimately be blamed on the legislature, whether the present one or any number of them since the days of reconstruction. There surely must be a few exceptions, but I’d be hard pressed to tell you what they are.
Clerk of court is a county position, not city. City Manager has no authority to place someone in office. Same is true for the county commissioners. We the people elect who we place in and out of office.
To Wayne and Glenn, the clerk of court is not a county job. It is a state job. Some clerks do not have an entire judicial district in their county, so some districts will have more than one. The job is governed by the administrative office of the courts. If anyone should be appointing, it should be the governor or a panel from our legislature.
If it ain’t broke………..
It IS DEFINITELY BROKE, SHATTERED in fact.
As a former deputy clerk, who also left employment under the tenure of Lisa Johnson-Tonkins, I am all too familiar with the desperate need for a new administration. The current clerk has no regard for her employees making it difficult for them to provide the customer service the public so deserves. The current turn over rate should speak volumes. As it sits now, the clerk’s office is definitely not the enjoyable work environment, “providing the ultimate in customer service” you see portrayed in news articles and social media by Lisa Johnson-Tonkins.
The clerk’s office definitely needs new leadership. Last time I was in there, it was a nightmare. The customer service was terrible. The employees were confused, I was given three different answers to the same question. I felt like I was in a twilight zone. Lu-Ann sounds refreshing and I’m excited to see what she will do. Anything is an improvement to what I last experienced!