MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, June 1, 2010
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Scott Weber at (360) 607-9813
CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY CLERK RUNS TO ABOLISH OFFICE
Republican Scott Weber, 38, of Vancouver announced his candidacy today for Clark County Clerk.
Weber said:
"I am running to abolish the office. It has no policymaking function. The duties are limited to filing court papers. The office of County Clerk should not be elected."
"Clark County will need to adopt a home rule charter to eliminate the office. I believe the county commissioners should review their recent decision not to proceed with the freeholder process to adopt a home rule charter. As County Clerk, I will push for the adoption of a home rule charter. There may be other changes the voters will want to make too."
"Of the six counties that have adopted county charters, four have eliminated the elected Clerk position. The person in charge of court filings in those counties is appointed by the superior court judges, the county commissioners, or the county executive. The job also could be consolidated under another elected official."
"Exactly how we abolish the position requires more investigation. But abolished it should be. These counties have looked at the clerk position and decided to make the job appointed. What compelling reason is there to elect the Superior Court’s head file clerk here?"
"Elimination of the Clerk as an elected position will save an amount into the six figures. Our elected clerk makes nearly $100,000 alone. Making the court's file clerk appointed will make it easier to streamline the office and make the person holding the job accountable to those public officials who have significant responsibilities like the judges and commissioners."
Weber is a manufacturing engineering technician for Columbia Machine. “Since the Clerk’s office involves little or no policy-making role, to the extent we have an elected clerk, someone who knows how to deal with manufacturing processes in the private sector is just as or more qualified to run the assembly-line like office as is a career bureaucrat. “ Weber said. “At least in the private sector we are more cost conscious and apply lean manufacturing techniques—it isn’t much of a jump to apply lean filing techniques” he added.
Weber has served as President of the Northwest Corvette Association and headed local annual food drives. He is a member of the City Bible Church and a graduate of Walla Walla Community College. He is married to Amy Weber and has four children. |
