Jason English (Republican) is a life-long resident of Santa Rosa County. He currently serves as the chief deputy of the clerk of court. Previously, he was an assistant state attorney and has 18 years experience in the justice system.
Q: It’s estimated that Florida’s clerks of court and comptrollers have nearly 1,000 statutory responsibilities. How would you juggle the requirements of this position while providing these critical services to the community?
A: The office of Clerk of Court has enormous responsibility. Luckily, we have a highly trained and motivated staff that knows their job and does it very well. The role of the clerk is to know what needs to be done, have good people in place and support them with the tools, training, and support to those jobs. The clerk has to be hands on so they know what is going on in the office and able to respond quickly and appropriately to correct and ensure the office is running at maximum efficiency.
Q: What steps can be taken to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of this office?
A: The key to efficiency and effectiveness is to pair human resources with today’s technology. Citizens expect to be able to accomplish their business quickly, accurately and as conveniently as possible. By using technology, we can accomplish this. Things like more online services, streamlining current services and developing new ways to approach common issues.
Q: If elected, how would you measure the success of this office?
A: The key to being successful is to ensure customer satisfaction, open and accountable government and fiscally conservative operation of our office. I think one key factor in a successful office is employee satisfaction. Supported employees are more inclined to provide quality work and foster an attitude of superior customer service.
Q: What makes you the most qualified individual for this position?
A: I feel I am the most qualified candidate because I have a broad range of applicable skills and knowledge. From my private business administration experience to my public administration experience, my experience in the court system and senior management make me the most qualified to handle and understand the complexity and diversity of our office and how vital it is in our community.
Ginger Pace (Republican) has over 35 years of experience working in the clerk of courts office, spanning across four different clerks.
Q: It’s estimated that Florida’s clerks of court and comptrollers have nearly 1,000 statutory responsibilities. How would you juggle the requirements of this position while providing these critical services to the community?
A: Juggling the nearly 1,000 statutory responsibilities while providing critical services to the community requires a multi-faceted approach. Among them are prioritizing and then delegating task to qualified staff. Streamlining processes to maximize efficiency. Providing ongoing training for staff to keep them updated on legal and procedural changes. Ensuring that the public is well-informed about the services provided with regular updates. Reviewing and auditing processes to ensure compliance and efficiency. Working closely with all stakeholders to achieve our shared goals. Continuously seeking feedback and making improvements to processes and service to better serve the needs of the people.
Q: What steps can be taken to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of this office?
A: Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Clerk’s office involves implementing several strategic steps. Providing continuous professional development and training for staff to enhance skills and knowledge. Fostering a culture of learning and adaptability to new technologies and procedures. Developing user-friendly online portals for public access to services and information. Establish clear communication channels and customer support to assist the public effectively.
Q: If elected, how would you measure the success of this office?
A: Measuring the success of the clerk’s office can be achieved through a combination of measurements. Track case processing times, as shorter processing times indicate increased efficiency. Measure the accuracy of financial transactions and record-keeping to ensure precision and reliability. Monitor compliance with statutory requirements, internal policies, and audit findings, as high compliance rates reflect effective operations. Regularly conduct surveys to gather feedback for the public and legal professionals on their satisfaction with services. Evaluate the quality of customer service provided. By using these and other metrics, the clerk’s office can be measured thoroughly, ensuring continuous improvement and excellent service delivery.
Q: What makes you the most qualified individual for this position?
A: With 35 years of experience in the clerk’s office, my qualifications for this position are rooted in hands-on experience, a working knowledge of the departments and leadership. Having spent 35 years within the office, I possess an understanding of its functions, statutory responsibilities and operational intricacies. Throughout my career, I have adapted to numerous changes in laws, technologies and procedures. My career has been dedicated to serving the community with integrity and professionalism. I am committed to upholding the highest standards of service and ensuring that the office meets the needs of the public effectively.