THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 2, 1995 TAG: 9511010193
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SERIES: ELECTIONS '95
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 124 lines
The race for clerk of Suffolk's Circuit Court pits a well-seasoned veteran who's running on his record against a young upstart with ideas.
In the only citywide race, the incumbent, independent Henry C. Murden, 76, who has been clerk for 28 years, will be challenged by Republican Gene T. Strickland, 32.
It may sound dull on the surface, but the clerk of courts impacts the lives of almost every Suffolk resident.
The clerk's office is responsible for keeping the records concerning deeds, marriage licenses and divorces. And if you run into legal trouble, your records will be filed with the clerk's office.
Created by the Virginia constitution, the clerk of courts is elected foran eight-year term at an annual salary of $72,396 and receives state benefits.
Yet unlike other more high-profile races such as state senator or commonwealth's attorney, the clerk's contest is one that usually doesn't generate much controversy. This race is no different.
Murden is counting on his experience and wisdom to win votes. He has the backing of Councilman Thomas G. Underwood and Attorney Joshua Pretlow, who both say Murden runs a top-notch office with impeccable records.
Strickland, who owns G.T. Strickland Construction Corp., says it's time for an upgraded computer system. Strickland has garnered the support of Republican Del. Robert Nelms and Suffolk Republican Party chairwoman Ethel M. Henry, who argue that the office needs to be modernized.
Yet the two candidates are in total agreement about one issue: affirmative-action hiring in the clerk's office. Currently, there are eight full-time staffers in the clerk's office - two are black. Murden hires two minority interns every summer.
During a recent National Association for the Advancement of Colored People candidate's forum, both candidates were asked if they planned to hire more minorities. They both said qualifications outweigh race.
Says Murden: ``I don't have any feeling about it because it's not an issue with me.''
Says Strickland: ``I believe anybody who is a public servant should be color blind. Race shouldn't be an issue in 1995.''
That's where the agreement ends.
Where they differ is on the vision of the clerk's office. Both disagree on when the Suffolk's clerk's office should upgrade to a computer record indexing system used by the Richmond Supreme Court.
Murden said there's no need to get a new record indexing system until the clerk's office relocates to the new $14 million Suffolk Courts Complex. Construction for the facility begins next spring and should be completed in 20 months.
``As a practical matter, I'm not loading up with equipment to move. The time to do it would be when we move to the new facility,'' said Murden.
His opponent disagrees.
``There comes a time when you need to bring a new generation in,'' said Strickland.
``He's 76 years old. What would happen if he became 80 and decided he wanted to retire? They would have to appoint someone. The voters wouldn't even get a chance to elect someone. That keeps things running on the good ol' boy system and that's not right.''
Strickland says he and wife, Renee, have traveled to various clerk's offices around Virginia, studying how other offices handle the voluminous records. Strickland says Suffolk is one of the few cities that hasn't upgraded to the record system.
Court clerks are responsible for requesting indexing system upgrades that allow consumers to get research information on-line, said State Supreme Court Management Information Systems Director Ken Mittendorff. Norfolk, Isle of Wight as well as about 40 other cities and counties have the system, he said. The advantage of such a system is that it allows consumers to retrieve deeds and other records via computer instead of leafing through files.
The Suffolk clerk's office hasn't requested such a system, he said. It would cost about $400 a month for a period of five years or a total of $24,000 for the system, said Mittendorff.
But efficiency would be worth the costs, said Strickland.
``In the long run, it runs cheaper because you have one entry instead of five. You don't have a lot of paperwork, and it moves Suffolk into the 20th century,'' said Strickland.
However, some critics like Pretlow, disagree.
Pretlow said the only people who would benefit from the system would be lawyers like himself or other professionals who use the clerk's office on a routine basis.
``For a person who's in there everyday, it might save them some time, but for the average person coming in, it might not matter. The average person may not even know how to use it,'' said Pretlow.
However, Suffolk Republican Party chairwoman Ethel M. Henry said Suffolk needs the upgrade.
``When we're behind Isle of Wight, we're definitely behind the eight ball,'' said Henry. ``It all deals with a vision of efficiency and accountability. There's so much growth in this city, and we need to get on-line.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
ELECTION FACE OFF
[Color Photo]
STAFF PHOTO BY JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Republican Gene T. Stricklnad, left, is challenging incumbant and
Independent Henry C. Murden in the circuit court clerk race.
AT A GLANCE
Gene T. Strickland
Henry C. Murden
Gene T. Strickland Born: May 5, 1963
Education: Attended Suffolk public schools and Old Dominion
University
Occupation: Owns G.T. Strickland Contruction Corp. and Vinyl
Windows of Tidewater
Phone: 539-4084
Experience: Member of the Kings Fork Ruritan Club
Henry C. Murden
Born: January 29, 1919
Education: Attended Louisburg Junior College and the University
of North Carolina School of Journalism
Occupation: Suffolk Clerk of Courts
Phone: 925-6450
Experience: Clerk of Court for the past 28 years
KEYWORDS: CANDIDATES COURT CLERK RACE PROFILE by CNB