In what could be the toughest fight of her political career, Orangeburg County Clerk of Court Lisa Mizell is facing a strong challenge from a former deputy clerk and longtime colleague in the June 10 Democratic primary.

Mizell, who is seeking her third four-year term, will meet Winnifa Clark, a 17-year employee of the clerk of court’s office. Clark resigned in late 2007 to run for her first political office.

As expected, Mizell is running on her record, while Clark calls for change.

“My whole point is every four years we’ve made progress from the four years before that,” Mizell said. “It’s a journey. In a county the size of Orangeburg, you have to pick and choose your priorities -- what’s most necessary and what you want for the next year.”

Clark counters that the technological improvements Mizell cites in her campaign are programs initiated statewide, not locally.

“The clerk’s office must embrace change to continue to maintain professionalism and competency,” Clark said.

Despite a particularly high-profile campaign from Clark, including prominent billboard advertising, Mizell says the race with her former employee has remained very civil.

“We grew up together and I consider her a friend,” Mizell said. “It’s as friendly a campaign as it can be in that we care about each other.”

Mizell was a civil clerk with four years of experience when she was nominated by the Senate delegation in 1999 to fill the unexpired term of veteran retiring Clerk of Court Doug Murdaugh. Although Murdaugh, a Democrat, favored his deputy clerk and Family Court administrator, Mizell had the strong backing of the local Bar Association.

In campaigning, Clark cites the training and experience she received from Murdaugh, as well as his former deputy Robin Heaton and family court clerk Shelton Sistrunk.

Mizell easily defeated Frederick Goodwin, who had run unsuccessfully for several local political offices, in both the 2000 and 2004 Democratic primaries.

The winner of the primary does not have Republican opposition in the November general election.

The clerk of court’s office handles all aspects of the family court, juvenile court, criminal court and civil court, along with the approval and appointment of public defenders.

Orangeburg County has a total of 52,043 active registered voters. Of those, 32,392 are black; 19,153 are white and 498 are designated “other.”

Lisa Mizell

Proud of her record in office, Mizell says the continuation of good customer service is what she offers voters.

“I just want to stress that I am a people person that believes in customer service,” she said. “In a nutshell, I still love what I do. I still hear great things from our attorneys and the public and all the way up to the Supreme Court. Everyone is happy with the work I’ve done. I don’t think a change needs to be done at this time when I’m working so well in office.”

The most recent upgrade in the clerk’s office, Mizell says, is the implementation of the case management system that links the clerk’s office with the magistrates’ court and the solicitor’s office.

“It’s been offered to every county in the state. Each clerk had to agree to it,” she said. “It’s $637,000 worth of software equipment. ... It’s a grant from the state at no cost to the county. We’re in the middle of training and conversion. It’ll be fantastic for Orangeburg County, when all 46 counties are on board.”

Anyone wishing to do a title abstract from home, she says, can simply go online and check judgements in any county. Also, on the criminal side, she says, “When we enter a warrant, it’s immediately on the Web. ... It’s all in real time.”

Also, Mizell notes, the clerk of court’s office is in the process of offering direct deposit to all customers receiving child support. And, she says, her office is working with the state Department of Social Services on a program to centralize all wage withholding. Already established, she says, is a program to assist unmarried parents with visitation, employment training and parenting classes.

Citing her open-door policy, Mizell stresses that she is there to greet customers and answer her own telephone.

Mizell is a native and life-long resident of Holly Hill and a high school graduate. She is a member of Fellowship of Praise in Santee.

Winnifa Clark

A deputy clerk of court for eight years and an employee for 17 years, Clark says she resigned from the clerk’s office in December 2007 to run for office.

“I have the qualifications, experience and training,” she said. “I like being a public service worker. I have the experience to bring improvement and to enhance the office.”

Her three-prong campaign, Clark says, emphasizes customer focus, ethical standards and technology.

“Customer focus is first,” she said. “The job is to meet the needs and expectations of the citizens of Orangeburg County.”

Addressing a rumor Clark says she’s heard, she denies that she is prejudiced and emphasizes that she can get along with all races and that all races will be treated equally and fairly.

Charging that the office has a “lack of professionalism,” Clark says she’s heard complaints while campaigning. If elected, she says, she’d make sure there is a motivated and professionally trained frontline staff making itself available to the public.

As for technology, Clark argues that, while additional technology is needed, the case management system cited by the incumbent is initiated by the state.

“The clerk of court’s office is just participating in this process,” she said. “This is no personal attack. But these are not her initiatives. She is only partnershipping in what’s already in place.”

If elected, Clark says she’d implement an online child support service that would include payment by credit card. Also, she says she’d make self-service forms available online.

In addition, Clark calls for a teen court volunteer award program and networking with the Department of Juvenile Justice, a domestic violence program, an employee incentive program, a volunteer-staffed child care center in the courthouse for those using court services and more public education concerning the operation of the office through workshops and seminars.

A native of Orangeburg County, Clark is a graduate of Rutledge College in Charleston with an associate’s degree in business. She is pastor and founder of Shepherd Outreach Ministry in Vance.

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by calling 803-533-5545.

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