ELECTION GUIDE
GLEN ROSE REPORTER & YOURGLENROSETX.COM | Thursday, February 13, 2014 | PAGE C14
Incumbent clerk prepares for December retirement GRR Staff Report
The three-way race for Somervell County/District Clerk follows the retirement of another longtime incumbent. Candy Garrett was sworn into office Jan. 2003 after serving as a deputy clerk for several years. During her tenure, Garrett has seen the office move into the 21st century through the digitization of records. The process has made records easily accessible, with indices
and images accessible by computer. “We are proud of our efforts in providing the most efficient and reliable access to our records,” she said, adding the digitization process started in August. Another major change during Garrett’s tenure impacts how elections are conducted. Electronic voting equipment was purchased in 2005, and elections have been tallied by computer since. As she prepares to exit
the office, Garrett remains certain about its importance, saying her successor will have to be a skilled in multitasking and time management to keep afloat in the vast sea of Somervell County records. “The volume of information for which my office is responsible is tremendous,” she said. “We are experiencing continued growth in the community and have been able to accommodate this growth primarily through automation and reorganization.”
In one way or another, the clerk’s office touches almost everyone who lives in Somervell County. From marriage licenses and birth and death certificates to beer and wine license and brand records, the county clerk’s office serves as a key office in the legal aspects of personal and commercial business. But the job doesn’t stop there. The office supports county courts and district courts in civil and criminal matters while assisting the attorney general with child
support issues and maintaining trusts for minors. While she is ready to move into the next phase of her life, Garrett remains grateful for the years she has served. “I am honored to have been elected county and district clerk,” Garrett said, adding the next in line will undoubtedly experience changes during their term as well. “As technology continues to evolve, so will the office to better serve the citizens of Somervell County,” she said.
Candy Garrett
MEET THE CANDIDATES - County/District Clerk EDUCATION • Glen Rose High School graduate, Class of 2003 • Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from Hill College, 2010
Michelle Reynolds, 29 Lifelong Somervell County resident FAMILY • Husband, Clifford E. Reynolds II • Children, Camden, 14, and Kinley, 6 • Parents, Lidia and Manuel Montellano • Siblings, Gaby, Roger and Julie Montellano
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE • Hood County District Clerk’s Office, 2005-12 CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS • Active member of Stonewater Church Glen Rose Campus, serving on the welcome teams VOLUNTEER SERVICE • Healthy Woman, Lake Granbury Medical Center
Reynolds Q&A Q: What are the duties of county/district clerk?
A: Somervell County/ District Clerk maintains a tremendous amount of responsibility that could be very intimidating without prior experience. The office handles civil cases such as bond forfeitures, name changes, tax cases and expunctions, domestic cases such as divorces, suits affecting the parent-child relationship, enforcements and modifications of family suits and criminal cases involving class A and B misdemeanors and felony cases. The office also offers a variety of services such as marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, probate and wills. The office also maintains property records and deeds, supports commissioners court, grand jury and petit jury. In reality, this office stands as the
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backbone to our county and district courts. Q: What experience do you have that you feel is relevant to the office? A: I have about seven years experience working in the Hood County District Clerk’s office as a District Clerk Deputy II. While working in this office, I have been cross-trained on all departments within the office, including front desk receptionist and criminal, civil and domestic desk support. I have the experience needed to lead this county, using my extensive training and knowledge required to maintain this office. Q: Do you have strong computer skills and/or office administration experience?
A: Strong computer skills are an absolute must in this office. The everyday requirements of the clerk’s office are about 80 percent computer related. I’m knowledgeable of the software used in this office and have proper computer training on today’s technology with the help of college courses taken at Hill College. It’s very important to have a clear understanding of the amount of responsibility this office demands and how crucial it is to have experience to uphold this office. Q: Have you worked as an administrator, manager or supervisor? A: Although do not have an actual past job title of manager, having been put in past situations where I was asked to oversee the office —
while my manager was unavailable — shows that I’m trustworthy and dependable. I trained new hires and assisted in ensuring that the office ran smoothly. Q: What makes you the best candidate for the office? A: With almost seven years of experience working in the Hood County District Clerk’s office, I gained the knowledge and experience required to run our Somervell County/District Clerk’s Office. I’m bilingual and have exceptional customer service skills. I’m committed to serving our citizens with honesty, loyalty and integrity. Please allow me the opportunity to serve the county that I have called home for the last 29 years!