THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510140101
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ANGELITA PLEMMER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 116 lines
FRESH OUT OF high school at the age of 18, Lillie M. ``Lil'' Hart's first job was as clerk for a Tennessee judge.
Now, 64 years later, things haven't changed much for the long-time Democrat.
She's still working for judges as clerk of Chesapeake's Circuit Court, although the salary for her constitutional office has grown from the $50 a week she earned in Tennessee to $85,479 a year.
``I was a secretary to the judge, and I took Latin in school,'' Hart said. ``The legal field's been my background all along.''
``I just liked law,'' she said. ``It's interesting, and you never get through learning. It's always something new.''
Now Hart, 72, is embarking on another new challenge - re-election for her second eight-year term as clerk of Circuit Court against Republican challenger Vista K. Cotten.
Since last fall, Hart has been campaigning door to door, attending barbecues and other fundraisers organized and staffed by a loyal corps of volunteers.
``There's never been issues as far as the clerk's race is concerned,'' Hart said. ``My platform is honesty, integrity and hard work, and that's what I believe that people in Chesapeake are primarily looking for.''
Hart's career as a clerk started as soon as she had graduated from high school in Franklin County, Tenn.
She moved to Virginia in 1944 and worked for several lawyers in the South Norfolk area. In 1953, she was appointed as the first deputy clerk of the Corporation Court of South Norfolk and remained there for nine and a half years. She also worked as a legal secretary and office manager for a law firm in Norfolk for five years.
In 1967, she was appointed deputy clerk of Chesapeake Circuit Court in the probate and chancery division. In 1980, she was appointed as interim clerk until an election could be held to fill the post after her predecessor was nominated to the bench. That same year, eight months later, she was appointed chief deputy clerk of the court.
Again, after the clerk's death in 1984, she was appointed as interim clerk until the November elections when she was elected to the office.
In 1987, she decided to run for the office and faced no opposition. She was clerk of Circuit Court for the full eight-year term.
``I think I run a good office,'' Hart said. ``Experience is the thing that (voters) should take into consideration.''
``I've always dealt with the public very well and that's just what I like to do.''
Being a clerk in Chesapeake has meant adapting to a number of challenges and changes.
Hart manages 28 clerks who handle civil and criminal law, chancery, probate, deeds, plats, judgments, financial statements, trade names, and marriage and divorces. Her clerks also work to serve three judges. While budgetary constraints have not allowed her staff to increase, the workload for her office has grown annually.
``In 1984, we recorded 19,000 deeds,'' Hart said. ``In 1994, we recorded 47,000 deeds.''
As for criminal cases, in 1984 there were fewer than 1,500. In 1994, there were more than 3,500. And the numbers are still increasing.
``The legislature voted in this past session not to allow any additional deputy clerks in the state of Virginia,'' Hart said, ``so when you've got that mandate, what can you do?''
It's not uncommon to find Hart working alongside her other deputy clerks. That could mean substituting as a clerk in a courtroom one day or answering phones as the receptionist the next.
``I'm not a person that cracks a whip,'' Hart said. ``When I see a spot that needs help, I give the help.''
However, her challenger, Cotten, who owns a Chesapeake insurance company, has criticized her for poor office management and being technologically behind the times.
``Her criticism I don't consider an issue,'' she said. ``The thing is private business is different from running a clerk's office.''
Hart said her office is automated and up-to-date, but lack of space in her quarters has become a problem. Growing numbers of double-drawer filing cabinets line the office walls. Stacks of computer paper line the hallways and Hart is struggling to find space to store the ballot returns from more than 30 precincts in the upcoming November election.
Her office also maintains will books, deed books, licenses and other records dating back to 1637.
Clerks don't have computers in the courtrooms because ``the judges would have to get together and agree that they want it. I would be happy if they put computers in there, but it doesn't come out of the clerk's budget.''
``I'm proud of the way that we have run the office,'' Hart said. ``Of course you can always improve, and we're continually improving.'' MEMO: WHAT DOES THE CLERK DO, ANYWAY?
The clerk of court is primarily a record keeper, the official who
oversees paperwork that's vital to most peoples' lives, such as
lawsuits, criminal cases, marriages, divorces, probates and deeds.
The Virginia State Constitution requires cities and counties to elect
a clerk every eight years.
The Chesapeake clerk, now paid a salary of $85,479 a year, oversees a
staff of 28. The office serves three judges.
ILLUSTRATION: Color photo on cover by Steve Earley, Staff
Lil Hart
Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
There's never been issues as far as the clerk's race is concerned.
My platform is honesty, integrity and hard work, and that's what I
believe that people in Chesapeake are primarily looking for.''
The incumbent
I think I run a good office. Experience is the thing that (voters)
should take into consideration. I've always dealt with the public
very well and that's just what I like to do.''
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE CLERK OF COURT CANDIDATE PROFILE BIOGRAPHY by CNB