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Empty clerk seat up for grabs in Bath
Julie Brinkley
BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER
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WARM SPRINGS - Julie L. Brinkley has worked as a legal assistant across the street from the courthouse for 17 years. The trek over to the circuit court clerk's office is familiar to her.
If Brinkley wins the election to become the new clerk, she'll cross that street one more time and take up the helm in the office where many of the documents she has prepared in her career are filed.
"I know the other side of the deal," Brinkley said about the operations of the clerk's office. "I have the ability, background and experience to assure the office is run efficiently and effectively," she said.
Brinkley's experience in the legal system ranges from criminal prosecution to the full range of civil actions and duties since the attorney she works for serves as commonwealth's attorney and has a private legal practice. Understanding the process and procedures will be an important asset if she is elected clerk, she feels.
The clerk's duties are twofold, Brinkley said. First, the clerk must administer the judicial process in the local circuit court. Second, the clerk's office serves as record keeper for the court and county. In addition the clerk's office sells hunting and fishing licenses, issues marriage licenses, administers oaths, takes applications for passports and other duties.
One thing Brinkley would like to see done with respect to the courtroom is some kind of metal detector available to screen people coming into the courtroom. Even a portable device to be used as needed would be helpful she feels. "We're rural and we're small but we need some kind of protection in our court," she said. Brinkley noted a recent increase in drug cases and that many of the candidates for sheriff propose more drug enforcement operations. A potential increase in drug de- fendants in court is one reason she thinks security needs to be improved.
Brinkley feels "understanding what makes the processes and procedures work effectively is critical to the court system." She thinks her experience, background, education and ability will enable her to make all the duties of the clerks office work properly if she is elected.
In addition, Brinkley plans to use "the next level of technology" to help the court and clerk's office to operate as efficiently as possible. She notes Bath County circuit court records are not currently online and expects Bath will be one of the last courts in the state to be available over the Internet. If she is able as clerk, she would like to make online access available and to put other records online.
Unlike all other candidates, Brinkley took a look at the current budget for the clerk's office. She noted the majority of the budget is in salaries and benefits for the clerk and deputies. However she did not talk with the current clerk about the budget in detail or the budget process, she said.
Brinkley knows Bath is part of the 25th Judicial Circuit and can name most of the counties and cities in the circuit.
If elected clerk, Brinkley said she would plan to keep current deputies "if they wish to work under me." She thinks they will.
The office of clerk is open, since current clerk Darlene Carpenter is retiring. "I'm not running against anyone," she said. Rather she is running for the job of clerk, she said.
"Someone once said 'Americans will cross the sea for democracy but won't step across the street to vote,'" Brinkley said. She encourages everyone to come out and make their vote count.
About the candidate Julie L. Brinkley, 40 Honor graduate BCHS 1985, legal secretarial science, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College 17 years offices of John C. Singleton, legal assistant Lives in Millboro. Sunday school teacher Woodland Union Church.
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