Miller says office needs to play for growth

Published 11:49 pm Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Susan Miller said she wants to be clerk of Whitfield County Superior Court because she thinks she can make a difference in the community.

Miller, 42, faces fellow Democrat Cheryl Phipps, Republican incumbent Ann Berry and Republican Melica Kendrick in the July 18 special election to fill the last two years of Betty Nelson’s term. Nelson retired last December. Berry, who as chief deputy clerk became clerk under state law, will remain in the position through December. Whoever wins the special election will take office in January. If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote plus one, there will be a runoff between the two candidates receiving the most votes on Aug. 8.

Miller said she knows the county is growing, which means the services the clerk’s office must provide will also increase.

“I look to the future,” Miller said. “I think we need to plan more into the future other than looking back at what we’ve done.”

While she has no experience working in the clerk’s office, she said she believes her 22 years of management experience will benefit her. Miller works as a compliance specialist with a Chattanooga lumber company. Her job is to make sure the company’s stores are up to date with state, federal and local regulations, she said. She also monitors the stores to see that they are meeting their budgets.

“They (her employer) know how important my community and my family are,” Miller said. “To me, this (the clerk’s office) is more than just a job.”

Miller said if elected, she does not plan on making any personnel changes in the office.

“It would sadden me greatly to be elected to this position and lose anyone at the courthouse,” she said. “If there is a personnel change, it would be their choice.”

At the invitation of Berry, Miller has spent a few hours at the clerk’s office. Berry asked Miller and Phipps to visit the office so they could see what the clerk does. Kendrick had worked in the office.

When asked what changes or improvements she would make, Miller said, “Not knowing what is mandated, I couldn’t tell you specifically. But I am sure there are things to be streamlined.”