October 12, 2010. BOONE -- At the end of March 2009, longtime County Clerk Glenn Hodges retired after taking office in 1992.  Superior Court Judge James L. Baker appointed Wanda K. Howell, a Superior Court trial-court coordinator (and former deputy clerk under both Hodges and John T. Bingham) to complete Hodges term. The office of County Clerk is up for election in November 2010.  Blowing Rock News attended the Boone Chamber of Commerce "Meet the Candidates" forum, on Tuesday, Oct. 12, to learn more about the candidates.

The Office Job Description

The Clerk Of Superior Court, elected for a four-year term, is responsible for all record-keeping and clerical functions of the Superior and District Courts. The Clerk has exclusive original jurisdiction over probate of wills and administration of estates and hears special proceedings such as foreclosures, adoptions, competence proceedings, condemnations of private lands for public use, and sales of land for partition. The Clerk also appoints guardians, schedules Small Claims Court, issues subpoenas and warrants, and receives money for fines, court costs, and other court-related activities. The Clerk also processes passport applications.

THE CANDIDATES

Diane Cornett Deal

Occupation: Christmas tree farmer, retired assistant clerk of Superior Court

Relevant Biographical Information:

• Married to Thad Taylor and live in the Foscoe Community
• Lifetime resident of Watauga County
• Elected to Soil & Water Conservation Supervisor Board in 2006
• Member of state and county Christmas tree associations
• Watauga County Farm Bureau Board Member 2006-2008
• Past board member of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture
• Past President of the Beaver Dam Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary
• Past Treasurer for Bethel School PTO
• Own and operate the Cornett Deal Christmas Tree Farm in Vilas
• High County Womens Fund
• Previous board member of the Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture Board
• Member of Cove Creek Baptist Church
• Member of NC Christmas Tree Association
• Member of Watauga County Christmas Tree Association
• Member of Watauga County Co-Op Extension Leadership Council
• Member of Cove Creek Grange serving as Chaplain and Vice President
• Member of Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Member of the High County Host
• Served as Liaison for NC Association of Assistant and Deputy Clerks of Superior Court

A statement from her Facebook page regarding her qualifications:

Diane Cornett Deal has over 30 years experience in the Watauga County Clerk’s Office, serving as Assistant Clerk under John T. Bingham and under Glenn Hodges since 1992. Diane was bookkeeper for more than 15 years, and in that capacity, she gained a unique understanding of the overall operations of the Clerk's office. For several years, she worked as the Clerk of Superior Criminal Court, and later as the Clerk of Superior Civil Court. Diane also has knowledge of the Estates and Special Proceedings departments.

According to Ms. Deal's statement at the Forum and other public statements:

she was also instrumental in the development of the Court's judgment abstracting system, and in the development of an automation system in the administrative office of the Court. During her 30-year career as assistant clerk of Superior Court, she served as bookkeeper for the office and was responsible for all financial records.  She was a Superior Court criminal clerk responsible for maintaining felony cases and working in the courtroom with the judges, district attorneys, attorneys, jurors, and defendants.  She served as a Superior Court civil clerk responsible for overseeing all civil and small claims cases, as well as supervisor of civil division employees, and has experience in probate, foreclosure and estate matters.

Wanda K. Howell

Occupation:  current Clerk of Superior Court

Relevant Biographical Information

• Trial Court Coordinator to the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge 1993-2009
• Deputy Clerk, Watauga County Clerk of Superior Court June 1987-1993
• Two children: Jason Harmon, attorney for Tom Speed Law Office; Chasity Rominger, who is married to Brian and lives in the Valle Crucis Community 
• Two grandchildren: Emma Grace and Cora Faith Rominger 
• Parents: Callie Ruth Rominger of the Bethel Community and the late Kodell Howell 
• Member of Flat Springs Baptist Church, however, I attend Alliance Fellowship Church 
• Member Boone Service League
• Member Blue Star Moms
• Member N.C. Judicial Support Staff, 
• Member Assistant and Deputy Clerks of N.C
• Member Clerks of Superior Court Conference. 
• Co-sponsored Operation Christmas Crossnore for a cottage of children at Crossnore School for the past five years.  
• Certified Concealed to Carry Instructor
• North Carolina Notary Public Instructor
• Licensed cosmetologist. 
• Former Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher and Rotarian.

From Wanda Howell's Facebook page:

My office treats everyone with fairness and respect. We have 165 years of combined experience in the legal field. I have 100% support of the entire office staff for the upcoming election.

I appreciate the overwhelming support that we have received from the attorneys, judges, court staff and the public.

From other public statements, including from the Forum:

I am not just an administrator, but also a working clerk.

I have had the opportunity to improve the court system in several aspects. I have updated the jury system.

We are implementing several new programs. One of the programs [is] NCAware, which is a program that provides real-time access to warrants etc. to law enforcement officers [and] replaces the older paper-based system. I have been able to work with Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) to provide local law enforcement agencies with computers for this program.

Implemented NC E-Pay Ticket, enabling Watauga County residents to pay citations online.

Implemented Civil E-Filing, enabling attorneys to file civil superior cases and special proceedings via Internet

Created a website from which the public can access forms and various other information

I will continue to work together with all agencies to make available the most up-to-date technology and service to Watauga County citizens.

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