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Ronald Wimer: Seeking first term
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
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MONTEREY - "The philosophy I grew up with was: you serve the community and the community gives back to you," said Ron Wimer, circuit court clerk candidate. The Highland resident traces his work ethic and beliefs back to his childhood growing up in Mustoe and attending Victory Advent Christian Church.
He has found his 15-year role as a sheriff's deputy interesting and challenging, but when he noticed that only two candidates were running for clerk, he thought he'd give it a try. "If elected, it would give someone else an opportunity to work in the county in the sheriff's office," he said. Wimer recommends citizens vote for the best candidate.
Wimer said he's willing to make commitment to the citizens of the county to do the best job he can do for them. He's a hard worker with good work ethics who has been involved in community activities and is respectful of others, he said, and having been a deputy, and a member of Highland's volunteer rescue squad for 23 years, he is familiar with both the court system and the community.
He claims his technology background as one of the most important skills he would bring to the clerk's office. "I'm big into technology," he said. "Technology is the way of the future. When I started with the sheriff's office, we had one computer, now we have many more. Grants paid for some. We have two computers that interface with the state (Virginia Information Network, the National Crime Information Center, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the automated fingerprint computer, and Iflows ground saturation computer). We have our own network in the office, our own server, and we just ordered three new computers and hardware to save the county money." Wimer will put those systems together; he is the system manager for the sheriff's office and is responsible for the technology now in place.
As system manager, he has made computer assistance contacts that may help him in the clerk's office, he said. "The state has the Virginia Information Technology Web site for technical support," Wimer said. "I also have contacts through the state Supreme Court technology people because I set up the computer in the magistrate's office."
The $160,000 clerk's office budget fits into Wimer's range of experience, he said. He worked as manager at the Highland Inn for more than 20 years (full-time until 1992, then part-time), where he prepared budgets and took care of expenses. At the rescue squad, he has prepared budgets and the receipt of money including grants, and handled expenses for supplies. At the sheriff's office, he has helped prepare the budget. "Last year I handled the office renovation for the Enhanced 911 system," he said.
Wimer said the Code of Virginia governs the duties of the clerk's office. The code sets out more than 800 different duties, he said. "It's more of an administrative office than a policy setting office," said Wimer.
The job of clerk is familiar to him due to his frequent interaction with the circuit court as a sheriff's deputy, he said. He has acted as bailiff for the circuit court, executed criminal and civil paperwork the court prepares (warrants, capias, and subpoenas), and criminal investigations have taken him into the clerk's office to research property and other records there. He has worked with the commonwealth's attorney and defense attorneys, people he will interact with as clerk.
"The circuit court is the first level of court considered a court of record," said Wimer. "All court records are kept there. The lower courts only keep a finding.
"The most important job of the clerk is to keep accurate records (such as wills, divorce, and child custody)," he added. "Land records need to be maintained because the commissioner of the revenue uses them for assessments. Assessment information is then passed to the treasurer's office that prepares the tax bill. It all starts in the clerk's office."
The clerk is responsible for record keeping, getting paperwork processed in a manner, and passing it on to proper places, said Wimer. "The clerk should be willing to work with the community, and has to be polite, respectful, and helpful. (Citizens) are coming to you looking for help. You figure out the best way to assist them."
County audits provide checks and balances, said Wimer. "It's always nice to have someone else come in and look things over to make sure we are keeping things in proper order … I haven't heard of any problems (with the latest audit)."
Wimer said he has an easygoing management style. "As long as people working under me do what their job duties are, I am pretty relaxed," he said. "I'm not a micromanager. At the inn I had a staff - housekeeping, chef, wait staff - they had their responsibilities and they did them. If they didn't, we would sit down and talk about the expectations. If they still couldn't meet those expectations, we would have to look at replacing them. As (rescue) squad captain, we have state mandated standards. If the members don't meet expectations, the squad could lose certification. At the (sheriff's) office, we fall under the Code of Virginia and state regulations. Law binds you to certain things you can do and can't do. For example, certain arrests are mandatory.
"You take an oath to uphold the laws of Virginia. You are bound by oath. That is what builds respect and character. Give respect, earn respect."
Wimer has no intention to change the staff at the clerk's office if he's elected, he said.
To prepare for being a clerk candidate, Wimer said he has reviewed applicable code sections, relied on his 15 years working in the circuit court as a deputy, and he plans go to the mandatory circuit court clerk school, if elected.
"The most important thing I have learned is nothing is exact," said Wimer. "There is no textbook that says this is going to happen like this. Each case is different and unique. You have to figure out what to do and think on your feet how to handle it."
Conflict of interest deals with personal benefit from the position one holds, said Wimer. He said he has no personal or business conflicts that would affect his role as clerk. He would be required to resign from town council due to the prohibition against holding two elected positions at one time.
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act applies to any government body that is custodial of records, said Wimer. "Everything is public except for certain circumstances set out in FOIA," he said. "Some information is kept secure because some individuals would use it illegally." He said personal information and information dealing with criminal records are kept confidential. "Capias and such may be under seal and are not public knowledge until executed. A search warrant is not always public knowledge until after the warrant is executed."
Desite his easygoing style, Wimer said he is a workaholic and expects a lot from himself. Though he doesn't hold a college degree, his on the job experience with the sheriff's office and in management has more than prepared him, he said. He does feel some voters might perceive him as a government "insder" due to his years with the sheriff's office, but serving the public is his main motive. "I've always been in the public, I've always been a public servant. I decided
to run for office and serve the people in the community," said Wimer.
About the candidate • Ronald D. Wimer • Age: 40
• Lives in Monterey
• Graduated from Highland High School in 1986 with an academic diploma with three college credits in computer programming.
• He has been a deputy with the Highland County Sheriff's office for 15 years.
• Wimer joined the Highland County Rescue Squad in 1983 and is past-president and current captain. He is serving his second term on town council, a position he will have to resign if elected to circuit court clerk.
• Wimer was in 4-H and participated in public speaking competitions. He won a regional competition. He attended governor's school for two years to study government.
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