Name: Ginger Pace
Office you're seeking: Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court and Comptroller
Occupation: Clerk's office
Education: Associate in Arts degree in Business, Magna Cum Laude, from Pensacola State College.
August primary ballot is set. Nearly 100 have qualified to run for local elected offices
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for this office because I have over 35 years of experience working in the Clerk's office, spanning across four different Clerks. I have seen incredible growth both in the office and in the county, as well as many technological changes in my career. My experience has given me a deep understanding of the office's functions and responsibilities, enabling me to effectively manage and improve processes.
What experience do you have that makes you qualified for this office?
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 commitment to continuous learning ensures that I stay current with best practices and innovations. 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.
In your view, what is the role of the Clerk and Comptroller?
There are many roles of the Clerk and Comptroller. The Clerk's office maintains Official Records; issues marriage licenses; accepts passport applications; issues Tax Deeds, facilitates the jury process; maintains and manages court records; collects and disburses fines and fees; provides forms for legal actions; maintains child support payment records; assists with domestic violence injunctions; maintains court evidence; provides accounting services to the Board of County Commissioners; audits; inventories county assets; and provides financial reporting, to name a few of the responsibilities. While performing these functions we should provide excellent service to the public and protect the taxpayers money through transparency and efficiency.
What do you believe should be changed about the office, and what specific steps you would take to implement those changes?
My changes would be to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Clerk's office. We need policies in place that will ensure that we are proactive and not reactive. We will implement a verification process that will prevent the transfer of county funds to scammers. We will provide continuous professional development and training to staff to enhance skills and knowledge. We will staff the counters with permanent employees instead of temporary ones to ensure customers receive the best possible service.
What do you believe the office is doing right, and how would you improve it?
The Clerk's office has some services online but could be more user-friendly. The Clerk's office could not function without its staff. Providing customer service training to staff will ensure they are knowledgeable and provide excellent customer service. We can improve community engagement and trust by increasing efforts to educate the public about the services offered and how to access them. We need to continuously work to identify cost saving opportunities and streamline processes to improve efficiency. While we offer comment cards for customer feedback, we need to establish a system so that we can gather and act on public feedback to continually improve services. The Clerk's office can enhance its service to the people by building on its current strengths and addressing areas for improvement.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Ginger Pace for Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court and Comptroller | Candidate Q&A
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