The primary election is fast approaching, scheduled for March 19 this year. There are quite a few government positions that will be filled by the November election but only a couple that have at least two candidates running opposed for the primary.
One of those positions is the County Clerk. The News-Herald sat down with both incumbant Clerk Leslie Milliken and Clerk candidate Christina Porter to discuss transparency and give them an opportunity to share a little about themselves with our readers.
Leslie Milliken
-Have you always lived in Harrison County?
Yes. I was born and raised in Harrison County and I have lived here all my life.
-What qualifies you for the Clerk position?
I have served as the Clerk of Courts for the past 15 years. Previously, I worked as the Assignment Commissioner in the Common Pleas Court for six years and Deputy Clerk in the County Court for 7 years. My work experience in those offices has given me a thorough knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of the Court system and the duties of the Clerk of Courts.
I have also served as the Deputy Registrar for the Harrison County BMV for the past 15 years.
-What sets you apart from your opponent in this election?
I have 15 years of experience as the Clerk of Courts for Harrison County and I am thoroughly knowledgeable in all aspects of this office.
I prepare and maintain the budgets, pay the bills, make the monthly distributions to the appropriate entities and reconcile the bank account. I have properly accounted for all funds that have passed through the Clerk’s office in the past 15 years. In 2023, 1.2 million dollars passed through the offices which I manage. I cover shifts for employees who are on vacation or out due to illness. I have the knowledge to step in and process filings, titles and BMV transactions whenever needed.
I also serve as the Clerk for the 7th District Court of Appeals. I am responsible for all cases appealed in Harrison County.
My 36 years of experience in the legal field here in Harrison County has given me the knowledge to address any problems that may arise and/or to know where to go to find a solution.
-What are the most important duties of the County Clerk?
I believe every duty is important when you are a public servant. I take my position very seriously and work hard to make certain the offices run smoothly and efficiently. I am available to my employees and to the public throughout all working hours.
-If elected, what is the most pressing issue you would like to address?
Storage is a problem for all county offices. In the Clerk of Courts office we receive all the paperwork for each new case every year. I would like to implement procedures to reduce the storage problem in this office but such changes would require additional expenditures and funding.
-What are ways you will work to make the Clerks office more efficient, reliable, and/or transparent for Harrison County residents?
I am working to implement online filing in the Clerk of Courts office. This will allow attorneys and private citizens to file documents online, pay fines and costs online. In the Title/BMV Office, I am preparing to renew my contract with the State of Ohio as Deputy Registrar and I expect changes and upgrades with the new contract.
I am as transparent as the law allows. Almost all records in my offices are open to the public with exceptions to personal information. I work diligently to make the records available to the public while protecting the personal information of all individuals as provided for by law.
-How do you feel most personally connected to the county and its residents?
I grew up in Cadiz and I live in Cadiz now, but I’ve also lived in Freeport and Deersville. I graduated from Cadiz High School. My children were raised and went to school in Harrison County. My youngest daughter is a junior at Harrison Central High School. My mom, sisters, and many friends still live here in Harrison County. I can always walk into a store and see someone I know. I enjoy visiting with them even if it’s in the parking lot of a gas station or in the middle of a store. Harrison County is my home.
Christina Porter
-Have you always lived in Harrison County?
I was born in Florida, but moved to Harrison County with my mother when I was a year and a half old. I have proudly resided in Harrison County since.
-What qualifies you for the Clerk position?
My education and work experience, and the skill set I’ve developed from both, qualify me for the Clerk position. I obtained an Associate of Applied Science and a Bachelor of Science which allowed me to first develop the discipline to keep strict deadlines and refine my ability to manage large amounts of information properly. I also have a cumulative five years’ experience in the title division of the Clerk’s office, experience as a legal secretary for a local law office, worked three years as a transcriptionist in an emergency department and had several retail and technology-based positions prior to that. I believe this collection of experiences has afforded me my customer service skills, attention to detail, efficient money handling practices, and accurate record creation and retention skills.
-What sets you apart from your opponent in this election?
In my opinion, my conservative Republican viewpoints and emphasis on the importance of technology utilization within the Clerk’s offices set me apart from my opponent in this election.
-What are the most important duties of the County Clerk?
The most important duties of the Clerk’s office include accurate record keeping for the Harrison County Common Pleas Court and Court of Appeals, fiscal and personnel management of the legal and title division (which includes the county BMV) and providing quality customer service to the residents of Harrison County.
-If elected, what is the most pressing issue you would like to address?
If elected, I’d like to make the Clerk’s office more fiscally responsible and more deadline oriented. I’d also like to see court records more readily accessible to residents and their attorneys as well as the Clerk’s office staff.
-What are ways you will work to make the Clerk’s office more efficient, reliable, and/or transparent for Harrison County residents?
I would like to implement an e-filing system that would make the office more reliable and allow its staff to be more efficient. I believe the system would also make the office more fiscally responsible by more readily managing paper resources.
-How do you feel most personally connected to the county and its residents?
I feel personally connected to the county and its residents because I have lived in the county, went to school with and worked alongside its residents for most of my life. I’d like to add that I love how this community is so close knit and does not hesitate to step up and help one of its fellow members when they are in need. I am working to be more formally involved in that process by joining the newly reorganized Harrison Women’s Club.
