LEWISBURG (WVDN) – Experience and information about the office of the circuit clerk were the main topics for the two Greenbrier County Circuit Clerk candidates during the recent Greenbrier County Chamber of Commerce candidate forum.
The Tuesday, April 26, forum included candidates from three different races – Greenbrier County Commission, Greenbrier County Clerk, and Greenbrier County Circuit Clerk.
The Greenbrier Circuit Clerk race is between the incumbent, Democrat Louvonne Legg Arbuckle of Lewisburg, and challenger, Republican Jamie L. Baker of Lewisburg.
Moderater and executive eirector of the Greater Greenbrier County Chamber of Commerce Ashley Vickers was joined by time keeper Cathy Sawyer, who noted that questions specifically pointed at only one candidate were not included in the question list.
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| The forum included Greenbrier County Commission candidates Democrat DeEtta King Hunter (right end) and Republican Blaine Phillips (third from left), Greenbrier County Clerk incumbent Republican Robin Yates Loudermilk (second from right) and challenger Democrat Kayla M. McCoy (left end), and the Greenbrier County Circuit Clerk incumbent Democrat Louvonne Legg Arbuckle (third from right) and challenger Republican Jamie L. Baker (second from left). |
The circuit clerk’s office manages records for several Greenbrier County legal institutions, such as the magistrate court, circuit court, and family court. This includes both publicly accessible and inaccessible cases, such as civil lawsuits and child abuse and neglect cases, respectively.
When asked what the most important part of the job was, each had different answers.
Baker emphasized the need for teamwork in the office.
“I think that your employees should be given an opportunity to come in with new ideas and new views on things and how they could be done better, or maybe something isn’t working this way. Maybe we can change it and try it here. If that’s not going to work, then we’ll go back to the way it was. … I will focus on making sure that the office itself as a whole is a team,” she said.
“Working together, and working with all other offices, helps to make things run smoother,” said Arbuckle. “From magistrate to circuit, circuit to the prosecutor, from family circuit to family court, as we all work together, we can all learn together. We can learn new ways of doing things and try to get the jobs done in the best way possible.”
Both Greenbrier County Circuit Clerk candidates spoke to the importance of keeping certain files confidential, such as with cases involving child neglect.
“When the [adoption] case is over, they’re sealed, you’re not allowed to get back into them unless by order with the judge,” explained Arbuckle. “Same goes with the juveniles, we are not allowed to give out information that is not been provided before to the people associated with the case. … With great time and effort, you have to make sure that none of this information is ever given to the public. … We just try our best to always make sure that we’re aware of what the situation is and that things are kept the way they’re supposed to be kept.”
“I’ve worked with very strict confidentiality guidelines, through the Violence Against Women Act as well as the Victims of Crime Act, for the last 13 and a half years,” said Baker. “I understand the importance of confidentiality and that a judicial employee should never disclose any confidential information received in the course of official duties. … I know that the juvenile cases abuse and neglect adoptions, … are under seal within the clerk’s office and so therefore, they are not public record. I have lots of experience in dealing with that confidentiality as a victim services coordinator with the prosecutor’s office. … We are not to release any information whatsoever about any of our victims.”
Arbuckle also highlighted her modernization of the office, including a new digital filing system introduced in 2020, put into place during the pandemic.
“We have an E file system where it’s all done through that by the attorneys,” Arbuckle said. “If a pro se person comes in, then we have to take care of filing their paper for them for family court, if they’re filing for divorce or child support or whatever the case may be. We take care of inputting that into the system. … Most of the time, it’s a good system, this new e-file system that we have, but it still has a few little problems we’re working out.”
What follows is a condensed version of each candidate’s opening and closing statements:
Greenbrier Circuit Clerk candidate Louvonne Legg Arbuckle, Democrat, of Lewisburg:
“I am Louvonne Arbuckle, and I would like to ask for your support for my efforts to be re-elected to the position of Greenbrier County Circuit Clerk. I am a lifelong resident of Greenbrier County. I attended public schools, graduating from Greenbrier West in 1980. I continued my education at Greenbrier Community College and obtained an associates degree in secretarial studies. I began my career in public service as a secretary and then deputy clerk in the circuit clerk’s office. I worked in this capacity for 15 years. During this time, I acquired the necessary knowledge and skills required to be circuit, and was elected in 2004 to the office.
“I am currently serving my third term. I possess an extensive knowledge of all aspects of the office, which is vital to the court functions. I have successfully worked with the West Virginia Supreme Court, employees circuit and family court judges, magistrate court, attorneys, and all the offices within the courthouse and their staff during my tenure as circuit clerk, I train and supervise my current staff, and I am fiscally responsible for working within the budget allocated for my office by the county commission, and have successfully done so as circuit clerk. I’m a member of the West Virginia association of circuit clerks.
“I am an active member of the Meadow Grove Baptist Church, where I played piano and organ. I am currently serving on the Vacation Bible School committee, assistant church clerk and treasurer at Meadow Grove Baptist Women’s Group.
“I have proven to be effective and honest and responsible clerk for Greenbrier County, circuit and family courts. Through my experience, I know that confidentiality is crucial. I am committed to maintaining the integrity of the office, and I appreciate your past and continued support. I would be honored and proud and blessed to be re-elected as circuit clerk for this beautiful county. Your vote for me would be a vote for experienced knowledge, dedication and integrity. I humbly ask for your continued support and vote.
“As your circuit clerk, I had the necessary experience and knowledge to fulfill the required duties of the position. It would be an honor to serve Greenbrier County in the future, just as it has been for the last 18 years. Thank you again for your time to see me and also for your support and vote.”
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Greenbrier Circuit Clerk candidate Jamie L. Baker, Republican, of Lewisburg:
“I want to start out by saying thank you for this opportunity to speak with you all tonight. None of this would be possible if it weren’t for God and my family and friends. The idea of running for circuit clerk was brought to me back in November, and after a lot of prayer and many conversations, I knew this was the right journey for me. With your support, I will be the next circuit clerk of Greenbrier County.
“For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Jamie Baker. I’m a lifelong resident of Greenbrier County. I grew up in Rainelle, W.Va., and I graduated from Greenbrier West High School in 2000. I moved to Lewisburg when I married my husband Brian in 2005.
“I’ve spent almost 20 years in and around the judicial system. I began my career in 2003 working for local attorneys, and then moved on to work for the Family Refuge Center. In 2009, where I was a supervisor, I was a program coordinator and I facilitated trainings throughout the state for law enforcement, prosecutors, and advocates. I have since been with the prosecutor’s office since 2018 as their victim services coordinator, and that helps me to guide victims throughout the court process.
“The circuit clerk’s office must see top notch efficiency, modernization, and quality assurance. I will work towards the high performance and ensuring legal processes in Greenbrier County, and to see that the cases are filed properly. As a conservative, I believe that processes must be streamlined so as to ensure that we’re not wasting our taxpayers dollars. This office plays a vital role in selection of jurors, issuing passports, guardianships for infants and incapacitated adults, and day to day flow of the court proceedings that directly affect the lives of Greenbrier County. As your circuit clerk, I aim to lead with superior process management and modernize execution of tasks.
“I will serve the citizens of Greenbrier County with honesty, integrity and provide the best customer service possible. Thank you for your consideration. I’m running for circuit clerk for the people of Greenbrier County, to bring fresh, new ideas, and I believe that a change can be beneficial to any office. I want to focus on cross training within, and training opportunities outside of the office for the current staff. I want to look for ways to offer better salaries to prevent turnover. I have many years experience in grant writing, and those grants could help offset some of the costs in the current budget to help give better salaries to those that are working.
“I’m a believer in transparency, inviting, encouraging, and lending tools to facilitate honest critical assessment, regardless of title. Transparency requires that people say what they really think and believe in its importance. Employees are more invested when they feel like they have a voice and have a real understanding of what’s going on within the office. Customer service practices, like valuing customer’s time, having a pleasant attitude, and providing knowledgeable resources, but that you also take things a step further to exceed, rather than just meet, their expectations. I’m asking for your vote for circuit clerk of Greenbrier County, and I thank all of you all for being here tonight.”
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