THE CHATHAM County Superior Court clerk is one of those behind-the-scenes, elected posts that attract little public attention — especially if the clerk is doing a stellar job.
That’s true with Dan Massey.
He’s seeking a third term in the Nov. 6 general election. We heartily recommend his candidacy to voters.
The court clerk is a state constitutional officer who is responsible for the filing and safekeeping of the tidal wave of official paperwork that washes through the courthouse each year. It includes everything from land and property records to civil and criminal files, adoptions, garnishments and trade name registrations.
The Georgia Legislature recently assigned the clerk to oversee the county’s Board of Equalization, which handles disputes over property values that the county assigns for tax purposes. And, just a few months ago, the six Superior Court judges here worked with Mr. Massey to create a rotating schedule of judges to handle major felony cases, which is designed to improve the work flow and enhance more timely disposition.
Bottom line: This is a huge job. Fortunately for the county, Mr. Massey has shown that he’s more than up to the many challenges.
Mr. Massey has 21 years of experience in local courts, including the last eight years as Superior Court clerk. He began his court career as court administrator for Recorder’s Court. He also served as director of Alternative Dispute Resolution for all the courts and as the chief deputy clerk and court administrator for State Court here.
The incumbent has put all of this experience to good use, helping the legal system function more smoothly and become more user-friendly. As a bonus, he has helped save Chatham County taxpayers a bundle.
A prime example is his decision to expand online services, such as e-filing and providing public search engines. He’s doing it in a way that improves convenience — it’s easier to go online than go to the courthouse and stand in line — while protecting privacy at the same time.
Mr. Massey also led the way for the electronic filing of all property records in Chatham County. The clerk’s office no longer prints county record books at a cost of about $110 each, about one to three binders per day. It’s all filed electronically. This will save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars over time. He also has used state grants to go back almost 20 years and scan and post deeds onto an electronic data base.
Everything is backed up in three different places. That way, if there’s a hurricane, fire or other disaster, critical information won’t be lost. Thanks to Mr. Massey, Chatham County may have the best protected documents in Georgia.
Among other things, he has obtained funds for a data exchange program that identifies sex offenders who move into Chatham County without registering, provides for digital warrants and the e-filing of criminal cases from municipal courts. He has negotiated between the city and county for the purchase of a new case management system to serve both jurisdictions.
Mr. Massey is running as a Republican, but this is really a nonpartisan job. There is no Republican or Democratic way keep track of paperwork
His opponent, Tawana Garrett, works as a counselor for eighth-grade students in the Jasper County, S.C., public school system. She’s a Michigan native who also served four years in the Army and has a degree in psychology from South Carolina State University.
She’s likeable and energetic, but she doesn’t have close to the experience or skill sets that this job requires. It’s also questionable whether she understands the clerk’s role.
But there’s no question about Dan Massey, an Air Force veteran who has a business degree from Armstrong Atlantic State University and a master’s degree in management and supervision from Central Michigan University. He’s supremely qualified and has earned a third term. We encourage voters to give him their support Nov. 6.