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VOTE411 Voter Guide

Brown County Clerk of the Circuit Court

The clerk of the circuit court (county clerk) is a constitutional officer. Voters of the county at large elect the clerk for a four-year term. The clerk is prohibited from serving more than eight years within a period of 12 years.Duties include:• Files, records and enters all orders pertaining to civil, juvenile and criminal matters• Collects court costs and fees imposed by the court• Issues testamentary letters, letters of guardianship; records wills and reports of distribution in probate proceedings• Issues marriage licenses• Serves as ex officio member and secretary of the county election board and of the board of canvassers• Is in charge of voter registration; receives filings of candidacy for public office, ensures poll workers are properly trained

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  • Candidate picture

    Pearletta Banks
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Laura Wert
    (Rep)

Biographical Information

1. What unique experience or perspective do you bring that distinguishes you from other candidates? .

2. What are the most urgent challenges facing the communities you seek to represent and how will you address them?

3. What is the most important resource or process change you would implement to improve how this department meets community needs?

4. If elected, what processes will you use to receive community input, evaluate policies and assess community needs?

Campaign Mailing Address PO Box 1211
Nashville, IN 47448
Campaign Phone 812-340-9454
Education Background I am high school graduate of Center Grove High School. I’ve earned a few college credits and have also earned a certificate of completion from Ivy Tech for a course in grant writing. I am certified, by VSTOP (Ball State University) in Voter Registration Access Proficiency Standards and Assessment; along with certification in Security and Privacy from Criminal Justice Information Services.
As the current Circuit Court Clerk of Brown County, I bring hands-on experience managing the responsibilities of this office every day. During my tenure, I have successfully administered a countywide election, gained a strong understanding of office budgeting, secured grant funding for critical election equipment, and initiated the project to digitize court records through comprehensive scanning.

These efforts have helped modernize the office, improve efficiency, and ensure our systems remain secure and accessible. My experience provides both the institutional knowledge and forward-thinking approach needed to continue serving the residents of Brown County effectively.
One of the most important responsibilities of local government is ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and transparently. Residents deserve confidence that public funds are managed carefully and directed toward services that truly benefit the community.

As Clerk, I am committed to maintaining responsible budgeting, seeking outside funding opportunities such as grants whenever possible, and continually looking for ways to improve efficiency within the office. By managing resources wisely, we can provide high-quality services to the public while being respectful of the taxpayers who make those services possible.
One of the most significant improvements we have implemented is the transition to Vote Centers in Brown County. This modernized voting process allows residents greater flexibility in where they cast their ballot while also helping the county operate elections more efficiently.

Vote Centers streamline operations, reduce costs, and simplify the voting experience for residents. At the same time, they maintain the security and integrity that voters expect from our election system. Continuing to invest in efficient, secure, and accessible election processes will remain a priority as we work to better serve the community.
Receiving community input and maintaining transparency are important parts of serving as Clerk. I regularly work with county officials, election workers, attorneys, and members of the public to understand how the Clerk's Office can best meet the needs of our community. Feedback from these groups, along with questions and concerns from residents, helps guide improvements to our processes.

I also review procedures after each election and major project to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, security, and accessibility. By staying engaged with the community and evaluating our practices regularly, we can continue to provide reliable and responsive service to the residents of Brown County.
Campaign Mailing Address P.O. Box 109
Nashville, IN 47448
Campaign Phone (571)422-2771
Education Background CEATS, MPA - IU SPEA, Purdue University
Occupation Chief Deputy Clerk
What distinguishes me from other candidates is that I have the experience, education, and the know-how to be an amazing Brown County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Over six years of Chief Deputy Clerk experience in two different counties and over 20 years of professional leadership in local government, and private industry. My deep sense of public service shows up every day with patience, professionalism and respect for every person who walks through the door. During previous elections, I followed election laws with absolute neutrality, ensured that every eligible voter could participate, built trust through transparency and fairness, trained poll workers thoroughly, and communicated clearly with the public about voting processes.
The most urgent challenges facing Brown County communities is building back trust, respect and transparency between them and the clerk's office. Ensuring proper, timely and respectful communication between eligible voters, those who pay fines/fees/child support, and utilize the clerk's office is paramount. Time to rebuild that trust and respect.
Proper in-person access to election board meetings is high on voter's minds. The mere fact that election board meetings are only during the afternoon and does not allow for real time interaction is something I hope to change with the election board. Only being able to watch on YouTube as an afterthought does not allow for healthy public input. This needs to change.
My door will always be open as Clerk. I welcome respectful feedback from Brown County constituents at any time. Communication via various media is welcomed, encouraged, and eagerly accepted. Emails, phone calls, in-person visits (please call ahead if possible) will always be accepted.