AAC F A M I L Y F R I E N D S » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » COUNTY OFFICIAL PROFILE
Madison County Circuit Clerk Phyllis Villines
By RANDY M. KEMP County Lines Editor
up with two sisters and hard-working parents – Kingston, 20 miles down the road from the county seat of Huntsville, and only 10 miles from Boxley Valley, the ruggedly beautiful headwaters of the Buffalo National River. Te county native served as Deputy Circuit
M
Clerk from April 1986 to April 1988, step- ping down after the birth of her and husband Dwayne’s first child. “I was fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home mom until my children began school,” she said. Now son Clay is 23 and daughter Alison is 21. Phyllis began doing temp work: substitute teaching, sea- sonal work in an accounting office, and helping with Dwayne’s sawmill/lumber business.
She decided to run for Circuit Clerk in 2000 when the incumbent, Shir- ley Allred, decided not to seek re- election. “With no incumbent, this seemed like the perfect opportunity. We went in knowing it would be an uphill battle, because I would be running against her chief dep- uty. I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy race.” It was close – but after the polls closed on the Democratic primary, she had won all but three or four pre- cincts, she said. She has not had an opponent since that primary election.
When she took of- fice, there were three deputies, including the chief deputy whom she had defeated. While the transition was smooth, two of the three went on to other jobs after a few weeks or months. Because of her work in that office in the late 1980s, “I was fa- miliar with the routine, and I knew everybody at the title companies pretty well.” She credits the supportive culture among
22
adison County Circuit Clerk Phyllis Villines still lives in the same community where she grew
Arkansas’s Circuit Clerks as a real positive, too. “Networking with the other Clerks was cer- tainly helpful. All the Clerks are very helpful and supportive.” She recalls some who called her
in those first days to offer their help if needed.
the courtroom is on the second floor, they made sure curtains were up, and had plainclothes of- ficers keeping an eye on things. It was interest- ing!” Phyllis was still a rookie, too, for a big judi-
ciary change involving her office – when chan- cery court transitioned to domestic relations. “Tose were some pretty big changes – but I was naive enough to just go with it,” she laughed.
What is her biggest challenge as a Circuit Clerk? “Keeping up with technol- ogy; it changes so fast, and bud- gets are so limited.
I’m proud of where our office is.” Her office put their im- ages online just this
year, and they are do- ing e-recording of land records.
And what does this public servant find most rewarding about the job?
“I’m a people person. Even though dealing with the pub- lic is hard at times, it is prob- ably the most rewarding part of the job.” On any given day, she might find herself working with one of seven Circuit Judges; numerous attorneys; genealogists and other members of the public; and criminals coming in to pay on their fines or restitution. “It’s just a very diverse group of people that
Once in of-
fice, her first court case was a high-profile murder case. One of the most memorable things for the new Circuit Clerk was the security involved. “Even though
you’re working with.” Te question arises: Does the public
have a good understanding of what she does as a Circuit Clerk? “Probably not. Tey know what the tax collector does, what the sheriff does. I think it would help the
COUNTY LINES, SUMMER 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64