Excerpts from Arlington Sun Gazette, September 5, 2007
No matter who wins the race for Clerk of the Circuit Court, four things are certain: It's going to be a new face in the job; it's going to be a “he”; he is going to be a lawyer; and there will be an effort to upgrade technology in the constitutional position, in an effort to better serve the public.
Both Democrat Paul Ferguson and Republican Mark Kelly used appearances at the Arlington County Civic Federation candidate forum on Sept. 4 to press agendas that include making improvements to the office.
“No one's arguing Dave Bell hasn't done a good job,” said Kelly, making his first run for elected office. “I want to bring it into the 21st century.”
Kelly is running against one of the county's best-known faces. Ferguson has been on the County Board for a dozen years - is currently its most senior member - and has won the endorsement of fellow Democrat Bell.
While Ferguson touted his understanding of the local government system, Kelly focused on his own management experience, as a chief of staff on Capitol Hill.
“Oversight and daily management experience is vital - you need to roll up your sleeves and go to work,” he said. “I've been on the front lines, working for people.”
Both candidates said they would push to upgrade technology in the office, to provide more information via the Internet while securing privacy. Both said, for instance, that those who want to get married should be able to fill out the preliminary paperwork online.
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