Candidates Eye Clerk Position

FAYETTEVILLE — A county computer administrator and a police lieutenant are seeking the position of Washington County circuit clerk.

Democrat Mona Piazza, a computer administrator in the circuit clerk’s office, and Republican Kyle Sylvester, a lieutenant with the Johnson Police Department, want the spot being vacated by Bette Stamps, who has served for a decade.

Early voting begins Oct. 22 for the Nov. 6 general election.

The Circuit Clerk’s Office is responsible for processing all legal documents for the seven circuit courts including criminal, civil, domestic relation and juvenile cases. Office staff handle child support collections as well as fines and fees from criminal and juvenile cases. The office keeps land records such as warranty deeds, easements and liens.

Piazza said she has 20 years of clerical and computer experience. She has worked for the county for nine years, five of those in the circuit clerk’s office.

“With that institutional knowledge, I can step into any role that needs to be done at that time,” Piazza said. “The girls would not have to stop and train me. So I have the experience and capability of bringing that.”

Sylvester said he researched and understood the role of the office.

“I've got 22 years in law enforcement and 17 of that is management as a supervisor,” he said. “I manage personalities and running things as smoothly as possible. Being in public service, one of the biggest things for me is customer service in any setting.”

Within a year, the Circuit Clerk’s Office will begin using computer software that allows easier online access to court and land records. Cases can be searched by defendant or plaintiff’s names or case number, according to the Arkansas Judiciary’s website. Eight counties in the state use the program, including Pulaski and Hot Springs counties.

“Court Connect will be a free portal,” Piazza said. “This will help a lot with the citizens to be able to have access to their records. Everything will go through a redaction system and then we'll review it and send it out and publish it.”

Piazza said the public can research land records for a $50 monthly fee and she wants to provide free online access to all circuit court records.

Piazza also wants to set up an email notification system when liens are placed on property. Those notifications would reduce fraudulent liens, she said.

“With technology changing and everything being more accessible, the public wants to access things online down to the smartphone,” Sylvester said. “Streamlining will be important to making an efficient office, but again, I want to go back to the customer service. I don’t think that's gone away with technology.”

Circuit clerks in Arkansas collect fees from foreclosure auctions. By acting as the commissioner of a property auction circuit clerks can collect one-tenth of 1 percent of each foreclosure sales price as personal income, according to state law.

A circuit clerk can make $100 when a property sells for $100,000 during a judicial foreclosure.

Sylvester announced in early August he would not accept commissions, even though state law requires it and he would likely have to pay taxes from the state-mandated income. Instead, he said he would donate the commission to the county general fund.

“Far be it from me whether it’s legal or not to put money in my pocket over somebody’s misfortune. ... I’m not condemning anyone for doing that,” Sylvester said. “It’s their choice and legal in the state of Arkansas. In my mind it’s not right and not something I would do.”

Sylvester said voters should contact their state legislators to get the law changed.

Piazza, a member of the state Circuit Clerk’s Association, said the commission income is ordered by a circuit judge and she would follow that order.

“When a piece of property is foreclosed or if somebody is fighting a domestic relations case, the judge may order items to be sold on the courthouse steps,” Piazza said. “It’s ordered by the court and in statute that we have to do this, but I would not oppose legislative change.”

Stamps announced her retirement in February and endorsed Piazza. Robin Lundstrum, county Republican Committee member and Elm Springs City Council member, supports Sylvester.