Between June 24 and the July 31 general primary, the Coastal Courier will provide in-depth coverage of the contested elections in Long County.

Today’s coverage looks at the Long County Superior Clerk of Court race between incumbent Frank Middleton and challenger Sherry McFann Long.

Frank Middleton

1. Can you give a brief biography about yourself?

I was born in Long County. My wife is Diane, and I have four children, seven grandchildren, and another on the way. We have two great-granddaughters. I graduated from Ludowici High School and later joined the U.S. Army. I was employed by the city of Ludowici as a police officer and later with the Long County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy. Just prior to becoming the clerk of court, I served as the Chief of Police for the city of Ludowici.

2. Can you tell the voters your experience that makes you qualified to be re-elected as the Superior Court Clerk of Court?

I have spent the past 11 ½ years learning and serving as the clerk of courts. This position requires very extensive knowledge and precise management of thousands of documents. I became a certified clerk by attending classes and completing all of the required courses through the University of Georgia in the Carl Vincent’s Institute of Government.

3. If re-elected, what would be some of the first actions you would take in your next term and over the next four years?

The office space that we work in is very limited and I will strive to better utilize the space occupied by the staff members. Consideration of computerizing the law library is a topic for serious discussion, and with that I will endeavor to enter more historic data regarding our real estate records. I also plan on expanding our Internet site to facilitate better customer service and make it more user-friendly.

4. What role do you see the clerk of court and the clerk’s office playing in the judicial system in Long County?

Without the records received and maintained in the clerk of court’s office, the judicial system would not work. It is imperative that these records are documented properly and all aspects carried out to facilitate the judicial system.

5. As Long County grows, how do you see the clerk’s office changing with that growth?

The more people you have, the more real estate records you have, the more real estate records you have, the more real estate records you have to process. The more people you have, unfortunately, the more crime you have, and with that, the more court you have there, too.

6. Do you have anything else you would like to say to the voters of Long County?

I want to thank the citizens of Long County for having faith in me over the last 11 ½ years. If re-elected, I will be honored to continue serving them to the best of my ability.

Sherry McFann Long

1. Can you give us a brief biography about yourself?

I am married to Kenny Long and have two children and three grandchildren. I graduated from Long County High School in 1980 and have been a resident in Long County since 1978. I have been employed as a paralegal by the law firm of Jones, Osteen and Jones for more than 15 years.

2. Can you tell us your experience that makes you qualified to be elected as the Superior Court Clerk of Court for Long County?

I have worked extensively in the real estate division and as a former title abstractor, I am aware of the importance of filing and maintaining accurate public real estate records. I have also worked in the civil, garnishment and foreclosure areas of law. Prior to becoming a paralegal, I worked in the budget section of the Fort Stewart Dependent School System, where I worked in the preparation of a multi-million dollar budget. I projected salaries, benefits, travel, training needs and supplies.

3. If elected, what would be some of the first actions you would take in your next term and over the next four years?

First, I would like to be able to create a better working environment for the employees. They are stuffed into that small office and I think that by changing the office, I hope to be able to improve work production. I would like to have a clerk’s website that will provide the citizens of Long County with the opportunity to go online and possibly pay traffic ticket fines, to fill out applications for notary public, to be able to look up juror information and to see the court fees. In addition, I would like to look into possibly extending the hours to 5 p.m. daily, which will include a staff rotation.

4. What role do you see the clerk of court and the clerk’s office playing in the judicial system in Long County?

The clerk oversees courtroom administration and reports directly to the superior and state court judges as well as being the superintendent of the jury selections. The administration maintains the master court dockets and is responsible for insuring that a multitude of court documents are properly managed, filed, and that appropriate fees are collected.

5. As Long County grows, how do you see the clerk’s office changing with that growth?

As the county continues to grow, it will of course bring more challenges to the office. There will be more real estate filings, more lawsuits filed and, of course, more traffic incidents, thus creating more work for the administration.

6. Do you have anything else that you would like to say to the voters of Long County?

If elected to do this job, my primary goal is to serve the constituents of Long County while maintaining a pleasant, amicable office environment. I will always be willing to put the citizens of Long County first, to sustain an organized work environment and to help the county prosper. And to insure accurate and balanced reports in respects to all financial aspects.