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Editor’s Note: For coverage of the primary election, The Stanly News & Press sent questions to each group of candidates. We limited their responses to 200 words per answer. Answers appear as is, with the exception of editing for grammatical/spelling errors or length. This allows potential voters to see the candidates through their own words and gives equal opportunity for the candidates to respond. We gave candidates two weeks to email their answers back.

Clerk of Court
Ginger Efird
Michael Greene
Pam Blake

4. What personal qualities do you feel makes a good clerk of court and how will you demonstrate those qualities?

Efird: A good clerk is a good leader who is qualified to hold the position. A good leader is someone who has integrity, is self-motivated, disciplined, confident, fair, humble, a listener and a good communicator.

Don’t take my word for it. I encourage you to ask anyone in the court system, law enforcement community, past and current employees of the District Attorney’s

Office, and the local Bar.

They will tell you that I exhibit these qualities daily in my current judicial branch role.

Greene: The Clerk of Court must have sound judgement, a knowledge of the law, people skills and duty to service. My law enforcement background has given me the necessary training and experience needed to be the Clerk of Court.

The administrative clerical record keeping part of the job is easy, but there is a lot more to the job than that. The clerk handles wills, estates, trust, adoptions and special proceedings. The clerk must make difficult decisions based on the law and facts.

Anytime you deal with real people it is not always cut and dry. You must know how to make the best decision for the person in front of you and follow the law. I have 30 years of experience dealing with people. I use a commonsense approach that has never failed me. I know people and consider myself a good judge of character.

I have never forgotten that I serve my community and that I hold myself accountable to the community. It is a virtue that helps me make good sound and lawful decisions.

Blake: I believe that there are many personal qualities that must be present to successfully serve in the role of Clerk of Court. The first quality is great service. “Your problem is my problem.”

If there is every anything that I can assist with, I promise to always have an open door policy. I cannot guarantee that we will always agree, but I will listen to your point of view and make decisions that are both lawful, ethical and moral.

The second quality is honesty and impartiality. I believe honesty is always the best policy and I will hold the staff accountable to this. I will also remain impartial and unbiased. I currently have no ties with any attorneys or staff of the Clerk of Court office. This will give me the advantage and ability to oversee the office and ensure that everyone is treated with fairness.

The last quality is common sense. While I am proud of my educational achievements and they have been instrumental in my success, I am even prouder that I am blessed with good common sense!

I weigh out all factors and possible outcomes before I make a final decision.

CLICK HERE FOR PART THREE OF THE SERIES.