Thursday, September 24, 2015

One more shot at the race for Clerk of Court

I pulled most of this from my first blog post about the Clerk’s race back in April. Even after all of the back and forth in the comments, so bad at times that I had to take down a blog post to stop it, these are still the basic facts of the race.
Your comments are welcome, but as badly as I hate to do it, they will be moderated and must have my approval before they go up on the blog. It’s a shame, but I won’t allow it to turn into pandemonium in the henhouse. Please keep your comments on point – you all know the rules. If you believe that anything I have stated is not factual, by all means call me out.

Today I want to talk about the race for Bossier Parish Clerk of Court. A lot of people are a little unclear as to the duties of the Clerk of Court and they are manifold. This is one office that will definitely affect you if you live in Bossier Parish.
Do you vote? The Clerk of Court is the chief election official for the Parish. The Clerk is responsible for making sure those precincts are staffed and equipped, that they operate as prescribed by law for the hours prescribed. The clerk also tallies the totals to report to the Secretary of State.
Own property? Your deed and mortgage are recorded with the Clerk. The office has all property records from the inception of the parish in 1843, so the Clerk is also an archivist.
Getting married? Guess who issues your marriage license.
Getting Divorced? Guess where you file that lawsuit.
Need a Protective Order to deal with an abusive household member? You go to the Clerk of Court to get it in motion.
Criminal cases, ditto. Staffing each Civil and Criminal Courtroom and issuing subpoenas? The Clerk’s office.
Been summoned to serve on a jury? That too.
This year the candidates are Jill Sessions, an eight year veteran of the office, and Monica Hudson, who served in the office for about that length of time under Wilna Mabry.
In the past, this was a hand-me-down office. Since the 1930’s, in fact, the person elected had experience in that office.
Wilna Mabry was Chief Deputy to Mrs. Broussard, who was elected after her husband, the Clerk, passed away. By the time Miss Mabry ran for Clerk, she had decades of experience and had served for years as Chief Deputy.
Joan Carraway succeeded Wilna Mabry. Mrs. Carraway had decades of experience and had served for years as Chief Deputy.
Cindy Johnston, our current Clerk, ditto. Decades of experience in the office and years as Chief Deputy.
This is where the chain ends.
The current Chief Deputy, Jill Sessions, was just appointed in February at the time that Mrs. Johnston announced her retirement. She only has 8 years with the office, and has served in limited capacities, so it is not the level of experience that people have expected in the past.
Monica Hudson, who currently works for DA Schuyler Marvin as a victim’s rights advocate, also has almost 8 years experience with the Clerk of Court’s office, albeit in the past.

The experience that counts comes from the 35 deputy clerks who work in the office. For the most part, they are capable and some have the decades of experience that really does matter. These are the people who will make a new Clerk, whomever is chosen, a success.

15 comments:

  1. I guess that then begs the question--who of the 35 will stay, or be allowed to stay and who will leave or be fired depending on which candidate is elected? One should ask the current deputy clerks of court whick candidate they support.

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    Replies
    1. You really don't think the current clerks would dare say that they support Ms. Hudson. They are having to campaign for their current boss.

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  2. It doesn't really matter who they support, that's a rigged question. Jill is their supervisor. I think a fair question for both candidates would be 'Will you terminate or demote any employee because of their actions in the election?'

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  3. Mr. Jim
    Has any of the past COCs ever had a college education?

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    Replies
    1. I know that the current ckerk and her predecessor do not, beyond that I don't know.

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  4. Mr. Jim
    How any jobs has Jill Sessions had not counting the minute clerk job? What supervisor jobs has she had and how long was she a supervisor ?

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  5. I have just viewed on Facebook Jim wells f/b was posted your page . It is the voting records of Jill Sessions and Monica Hudson and man Sessions does not believe in voting I think you should post to the blog so all your bloggers can see this is a game changer I am voting for Hudson .

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  6. Game changer...lol
    Monica is pissing in the wind

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  7. Monica Hudson Facts:
    Bachelors of Science from Minot State University
    Associate Degree from Bossier Parish Community College
    7 years Deputy Clerk of Court for Bossier Parish COC
    12 years Victim Advocate for Bossier Parish District Attorneys Office
    Notary Public
    Member of First Baptist Bossier

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  8. Jill Sessions FACTS: HONEST,STRONG WORK ETHIC,STRONG FAMILY VALUES,EXPERIENCED,
    11 years Civil Department with Bossier Parish Sheriff Department.
    Chief Deputy of Bossier Parish Clerk of Court
    Supervisor of Civil Department Bossier Parish Clerk of Court
    8 years Bossier Parish Clerk of Court. Republican woman of Bossier member
    LA Clerk's Association member
    Member Bossier Lion club
    Cypress area Garden Club member
    Member of St. Jude's Catholic Church
    Jill has life's PERSONAL experiences that The Clerk of Court office needs as well as Professional work experiences. Jill knows first hand how each department is ran and what it takes to see that everything is being handled as it should be. Jill's concerns go way deeper then just trying to win a vote. Its about serving the people of Bossier Parish and taking care of them and making sure the Clerks office will continue to run as it should Monica's associate Degree and her Bachelors degree will never change her lack of people skills nor her lack of concern for the people of Bossier parish and the employees of the Clerks office Jill knows every department inside and out and has what it takes to serve as the NEXT CLERK OF COURT!!!!!! lets finish what we started and wrap this up on October 24th 2015 Jill Session our next Clerk of Court!!!!!!!

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  9. Hudson began her career in August 1982 with the Bossier Parish Clerk of Courts Office and continued with that office until May 1990. Her duties there included: running Mortgage Certificates for sheriff’s sales, lenders, and the general public, issuing marriage licenses, assisting in the indexing of Mortgage and Conveyance records, microfilming mortgage and conveyance records, typing court minutes for civil and criminal cases, and training COE workers.

    Hudson worked for The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for three years after leaving the Clerk of Courts Office. At the FDIC she started in the file room and within three months moved to records management where she handled released mortgage notes and cancelled them at the various clerks offices. She also maintained a data base with all closed files. She then moved to Asset Management Department and performed various special projects as well as ordering appraisals, insurance, asset lien searches, and credit reports. She paid bills and re-inscribed mortgages at the clerk’s offices. One year later she was promoted to the job of energy technician for the site. There she wrote and implemented procedures for the oil and gas department and prepared monthly reports for upper management. Her duties also included tracking all oil and gas revenue and expenses, keeping up with all accounts receivable and accounts payable records on each oil and gas asset, and researching and issuing division orders.

    Hudson’s experience also includes having been a legal secretary and paralegal for attorneys which involved the preparation of legal documents and filing them in the parish and federal clerks offices.



    Still employed at the Bossier Parish District Attorney’s Office, she began her career there in the incoming area and was quickly moved to the misdemeanor department where she worked cases and assisted attorneys with legal documentation,


    subpoenas, motions, discoveries as well as other legal documentation. Her duties also included working with attorneys in trial preparation.

    Hudson has been the victim advocate for the past 12 years of her 15 years she has been employed in the District Attorney’s Office. She works with victims of crime ranging from domestic violence, sexual assault, robbery, and murder cases just to name a few. She works with attorneys in trial preparation and obtains certified medical records when needed. She assists victims in obtaining counseling and restitution. She assisted Representative Billy Montgomery in writing legislation to assist victims in obtaining restraining orders. She accompanies victims to court, prepares legal documents, and helps with statistical data for grants.

    She is civic minded and has served as president on several non-profit boards. Her unique combination of career experiences has provided her with insight into the functioning of the Clerk of Courts Office as well as providing insight into needed enhancements to the services it offers by implementing streamlined procedures

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  10. Hudson Facts:
    Membership Chairman, Republican Women's Club
    Member, Northwest Louisiana Board of Realtors
    Former President, Caddo-Bossier Domestic Violence Task Force
    Advisory Board Former President , Foster Grandparents Program
    Former Board President, YWCA and Shelter
    Developed and Ran a Volunteer Soup kitchen at First Baptist Church
    This Lady is not Lacking in experience and education. She will have no problem running the COC Office and will be a great COC . She is and has been serving her community for years. This is not something she has just started cause of the election this is what has brought her to the election . I think Bossier parish will be backing her at the poles . Why would they not with all her experience .

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  11. Went to the forum at Saint Jude Catholic Church. Monica didn't even show up. Pity.

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  12. Monica was at another speaking engagement with battered women and foster grand children . And the church knew it and was contacted about her prior engagement .

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  13. I attended the forum at Saint Jude Catholic Church as well. It was a great turn out and I am supporting Mrs.Sessions. I have kept up with all the events and Forums and Jill Sessions I feel is the best Qualified for Clerk of Court. Mrs. Sessions did a great Job and is very intelligent and knew about every department and how each department is ran and what it takes to continue to run each department. Mrs. Sessions seems very passionate about her employees and the support she has from all of them. They seem very united and that also is what makes for a great Clerks office. Mrs. Sessions has the experience and knows all the ins and outs of the Clerks Office and more important Mrs. Sessions cares about the people of Bossier parish and her Employees. I feel Mrs. Sessions has great ideas and changes for Bossier Parish and the Clerks Office. I will be voting for Mrs. Sessions on October 24th and Know She will continue to do a awesome job and take care of the people of Bossier Parish and bring about new positive changes to the Clerks Office.

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