Headline Surfer videos by Multimedia Editor Serafina King Frederick / Clerk of the Circuit Court Diane Matousek introduces herself to 200 citizens at the Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach before a public candidate debate between state senate combatants Dorothy Hukill and Frank Bruno, finishing her enthusiastic presentation with a "Yes!"
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- There's an old saying that goes like this: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That adage applies to the leadership, mentoring and professionalism of Diane Matousek, Volusia County's outstanding clerk of the circuit court.
If one were to give any credence to the candidacy of her opponent, Christine Sanders, a former clerk under Matousek, whose wealth of management experience consists running her husband's solo law practice before he became a county judge two years ago, that a change needs to be made, then the obvious question becomes why now?
The challenger claims she'd bring down cost while at the same time she's claiming it's taking too long for her former colleagues to answer the phone. And what cost is she referring to? Matousek returned $1 million last year to the state in collections from fines, liens, etc. Matousek anticipates at least $350,000 going back again this fiscal year.
Sanders also is critical of the clerk, saying her senior management is too top heavy with five directors under her. Anyone who has ever been to the clerk as often as we have over the past 16 years we've accessed its records, either in the past 4 1/2 years for this 24/7 Internet newspaper or before that in news gathering, knows proper supervision and oversight is extremely critical, especially when so many legal issues are in play.
With six locations throughout the county -- two in DeLand, including the main office at the Volusia County Courthouse, the Justice Center and courthouse annex in Daytona Beach, the facility in New Smyrna Beach and at the branch jail, Matousek and her managers cover a lot of ground with 280 employees. And with another 44 open positions, the reality is those call waits have diminished with a change in phone systems.
Sanders suggests the operation needs to go paperless, but a committee working with Matousek's staff can only go as fast as the funding for that allows and that is well under way.
Finally, Sanders is critical of Matousek's built-up incentive through Florida's "DROP" program. She told the Orlando Sentinel: "The incumbent clerk is double-dipping with a second retirement. Replacing her in this election will instantly save taxpayers $164,527 in money that will no longer have to be paid into her golden parachute."
A statement like that is a slap in the face for a dedicated public servant who has given the office 20 years of elective leadership and 40 years overall, essentially from the time Matousek graduated from high school to work the same entry-level job that Sanders walked away from.
A statement like that is a slap in the face for a dedicated public servant who has given the office 20 years of elective leadership and 40 years overall, essentially from the time Matousek graduated from high school to work the same entry-level job that Sanders walked away from.
And now she thinks she can do it better? This is a candidate, who has no party affiliation -- though she goes around touting her registration as a Republican after the fact, have hoped Matousek's GOP primary opponent Steve deLaroche would have knocked Matousek out of the running. He didn't, though he would be a far stronger candidate against Matousek in this general election. Regardless, Matousek beat him handily, even though she was outspent by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
DeLaroche, a private attorney and former county judge, a loyal Republican in defeat, has since graciously thrown his support Matousek's way.
So what's really at play here? Matousek's $138,000 may very well be tempting to an unemployed Sanders, but she's no where in the same league in handling the responsibilities. The job of clerk of the circuit court is not for a novice.
So what's really at play here? Matousek's $138,000 may very well be tempting to an unemployed Sanders, but she's no where in the same league in handling the responsibilities. The job of clerk of the circuit court is not for a novice.
As we asked at the beginning of this write-up, if it ain't broke, then why fix it? Headline Surfer endorses Clerk of the Circuit Court Diane Matousek for re-election in Tuesday's general election.
Candidate snapshots
Diane Matousek
Christine SandersEditor's Note: The endorsements recommended to the voters are the sole decision of the reporter here, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer's award-winning editor and publisher, who has covered news in Volusia County since 1996. In the interest of full disclosure, Frederick is a registered Democrat.
Headline Surfer is the 24/7 Internet newspaper in New Smyrna Beach covering Volusia County and beyond accessed without subscription fees via HeadlineSurfer.com, NSBNews.net and VolusiaNews.net.