Courts clerk facing a political challenge
by Kim Sloan, staff writer
Nov 04, 2012 | 8386 views | 11 11 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend | print
(File / RN-T.com)
(File / RN-T.com)
slideshow
The race for Superior Courts clerk pits incumbent Barbara Penson, a Democrat, against Republican Mark McAllister, an insurance field representative.

During a previous debate the two outlined why they wanted to run for office.

McAllister said when the Rome Tea Party sought local candidates, he thought the clerk’s seat would be “a good fit” for him to help the community.

“I have a background in customer service,” he said. “I have a background in thinking outside the box, of doing what it takes to get the job done.”

Penson said she’s modernized a paper-based office in her first term, adding computers and making documents available online.

“It’s been a journey,” she said. “We’ve had an 8.5-percent overall budget cut and 2.5 frozen positions, but we have not let it slow us.”

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Comments
(11)
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TheSeer
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November 05, 2012
When an employee in any office is posting on A site with sarcasm and complaining about her pay and work conditions during the working day, she isn't doing herself or her boss any favors. I personally think all of our local officeholders do a good job but Useless never should have posted that response.
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Trelicious
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November 05, 2012
They done went and took away their lunch breaks, smart phones and vacation days too?

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Ihatepolitics
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November 05, 2012
I agree that our local officeholders do a good job (even the ones I don't agree with politically). When it ain't broke, what kind of person tries to fix it? And worse still, fix it with the wrong tool?

If the only tool you have is Tea Party sloganeering, everything looks like a budget problem. As Mrs. Penson points out in the Q&A, she's done a fine job of managing an increasingly complex office with less funding. If Mr. McAllister wants to fix budget problems, he should run for a political office and cut waste and fraud under the Golden Dome. His claim that he can improve on the Clerk's Office fiscally by using "technology" is frightening because it shows how unaware he is of the technological skills necessary to run the office effectively.
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"USELESS"_Clerk
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November 05, 2012
@Anabelle_lee

I am sorry your experience with the Clerk's Office has not met your specific needs.But I am sure as you know WE ARE NOT Attorneys nor do we toll time at the Jail for your loved one to get out of Jail.Our office has not recieved a raise for almost 5 years now.And with the amount of work being increased,we are overworked,and underpaid.I assure you we carry ourself in the most professional way as possible.If you have any doubts of running the office better "BY LAW".Then maybe in 4 years you should run for the position.Or if you had a bad experience please come talk to us about how we can make it better for you and the rest of the public.
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anabelle_lee
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November 05, 2012
Thanks for making my point even stronger with that post useless. And by the way, those that actually work for a living haven't had a raise in years either. Why should you be any different. Please explain that "toll time at the jail" comment.
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anabelle_lee
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November 05, 2012
I'm not voting for penson. I can't say she has done a terrible job but I haven't seen a change in the clerk's office from years past. It's still full of useless people that treat the public as a bother. Only one lady will give you any help. The rest are rude and act as if they wish you would go away so that they can get back to their gossiping which they do continuously. Very unprofessional
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hpe
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November 05, 2012
I'm sorry if you were treated this way--I haven't seen such problems when I've been in the office, and I haven't seen gossiping, but I honestly believe (ignoring politics for a second) that if you tell Barbara about any problem you have with a staff member, she will resolve it. Come back here and post if she doesn't.

Back to politics--is there any reason to believe that Barbara's opponent will do better? Frankly, I'd rather put up with a lack of courtesy (and I'm not saying this is a problem there) than with somebody misfiling a claim--and I AM saying that under a poorly prepared Clerk this could happen.
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appalucy
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November 05, 2012
Ms. Penson has been in for four years running that office. She is the manager and it is her responsibility to be sure her clerks are doing their job. Don't throw it back on the customer.

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Ihatepolitics
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November 05, 2012
I too have seen first-hand what a fine job Barbara Penson has done as Clerk of Superior Court. Positions of service like Clerk of Court or Sheriff should be non-partisan, and I can vouch that whether you're Republican, Democrat, Independent, or apolitical, you'll get equal and excellent service from Barbara Penson. If someone runs for this office with a political agenda, whether it's Tea Party or Green Party, you should be concerned. Do you want the filing of your deeds and other important records to be subject to partisan idiocy?
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kcraig2200
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November 04, 2012
I have worked with Barbara and have known her for the last 20 years. She is a very dedicated, determined and efficient individual. She takes on any task with firm determination. Floyd county citizens are fortunate to have such an honest and trustworthy woman serving them as clerk of Superior Court. I hope she is re-elected.
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randyvice
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November 04, 2012
Mrs. Penson is an amazing woman and is an asset to Floyd County. I don't know anything about her opponent but he cannot possibly do as good as Mrs. Penson. Good Luck Barbara and God Bless You.
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