A Republican Candidates Forum ahead of the March 3 Primary, organized by the Brown County Republican Party, took place Thursday evening at Victory Life Church. The nearly three-hour event featured introductory and closing comments, along with question-and-answer sessions, with candidates for Brown County Judge, Brown County Treasurer, Brown County Clerk, County Commissioner in Precincts 2 and 4, Justice of the Peace in Precinct 4, and Republican Party Chair.
The following are the excerpts from the questions answered by County Clerk candidates Vicky Jenkins and Jennifer McKibben.
Vicky Jenkins
Please explain your understanding of the duties of the Brown County Clerk
They’re basically the county’s record keeper. They’re in charge of real property records, vitals such as birth certificates, marriage licensing. Also, the county clerk is responsible for all misdemeanor case filings. I’ve spent the last four years working for the Brown County Attorney’s Office and all we handle is misdemeanors, so I’ve worked day in and day out with the clerks on misdemeanors. The county clerk is also responsible for juvenile cases, small civil suits, and probate. Sometimes I think the importance of the county clerk’s position is overlooked, but the reality is affects everyone in the general public. Everything needs to be accurate and done in a timely manner.
What are the priorities and what do you feel is important for the office of the county clerk?
The priorities for the county clerk’s office, in my mind, are No. 1 customer service. I believe that the office should implement cross training so at all times if anybody comes in somebody on staff can help. I believe that accuracy is key. We’re dealing with people’s real property and personal property, marriage licenses and birth certificates. The job is important and accuracy is key. The general public needs to have more accessibility to the documents and it needs to be modernized. For example, I would like to see people be able to log into the court system and see if there are upcoming court hearings on misdemeanors. I understand they’re not going to have access to criminal filings through the system, but it would be nice be like other counties and be able to log in and see what had been filed and any upcoming court dates. But accuracy, customer service and timeliness are the priorities.
How would you train your staff to be helpful toward any need and make sure of a positive experience?
That boils back down to customer service and it also has to do with cross training. When anybody walks in, any staff member should greet them and should know the job. If everybody’s trained to know how to do they’re requested to do, they should no problem explaining to the general public, whether it’s an 18-year-old or an attorney that knows what they’re looking for. If you know your job, you should be able to help them, and to help them with a smile and make them feel comfortable. I’ve learned that from family law, people in the middle of a crisis and sometimes you just have to have a listening ear and empathy and take the time to listen and help them.
***
Jennifer McKibben
Please explain your understanding of the duties of the Brown County Clerk
Even though I work with the district clerk’s office right now, I have many years experience working with the county clerk’s office. I understand they handle the filings of the real and personal property records, vital statistics including birth certificates and death certificates. They also do business, livestock brands, military discharge records and financial records. A big part of it, too, the county clerk is responsible for keeping minutes for commissioners court.
What are the priorities and what do you feel is important for the office of the county clerk?
The priorities are accurate record keeping, being open to where people feel comfortable to come in, customer service, just being there, following procedures. Right now we’re currently undergoing a new software program with Tyler Technologies, I have experience with that because working with Mills County, we are already working with Tyler Technologies, I feel like my experience there will make it feel like more of a seamless transition. There is a lot of training that we’re all having to undergo, but I feel I do have experience in that role.
How would you train your staff to be helpful toward any need and make sure of a positive experience?
Customer service is vital and very important, as well as cross training. If someone comes in, you have to know how to answer their questions and make them feel comfortable. My experience with working with law firms and dealing with the clerk’s office, I always felt comfortable going in there and I feel it’s very important to maintain that. I just want to continue that open public office where people feel comfortable to come in and ask any questions and we’re able to answer them. I do believe cross training is very important, too.
***
To watch the KOXE live stream of the forum in its entirety, click here https://www.koxe.com/brown-county-candidate-forum/