Pasco Clerk of Court | Republican primary

Winner: Paula O'Neil

Vying to replace Jed Pittman after 32 years as clerk are two public servants. Chief Deputy Clerk Paula O’Neil has 21 years in county government. Dan Tipton is a longtime local businessman who served two terms as mayor of New Port Richey.

	Paula O’Neil, 51	Dan Tipton, 56
Experience	The chief deputy clerk, O’Neil started her career in public service in 1987 as a Pasco parks manager. She moved to community services in 1993 and has been at the clerk’s office since 2002. She has a bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University and a master’s from National-Louis University.	He has operated Dan Tipton Interiors since 1970 and is active in numerous civic organizations including Leadership Pasco. He is a graduate of Gulf High School. He twice ran for County Commission in the 1990s but lost. He was mayor of New Port Richey from 2004 to this April, and has sat on the Tampa Bay Water board.
Their vision for the Clerk’s Office	O’Neil said she brings experience to an important government office. She wants to partner with local attorneys to expand pro bono legal work and wants the office to take a lead role in tackling a lack of resources for the mentally ill in Pasco and Florida. She wants to expand the office’s online abilities, improve customer service, and tighten the budget.	Tipton is running on a platform of change: He wants live operators to answer calls, not an automated phone system. He also wants to charge less for copying documents, make more documents available online and open a satellite office in fast-growing central Pasco. He wants to make the clerk’s office friendlier and more efficient.
Their case for your vote:	“We would never consider selecting a judge without experience; why would we hire a clerk without experience? I have the experience, education and vision to carry the clerk’s office into the future.”	“If I win this election, they’re going to have to put a few Dumpsters behind the courthouse so we can get rid of the automated voice machines, so you can speak to a live person every time you call the office.”
Assets	Home, rental properties, savings.	Homes, land, business, savings.
Liabilities	Mortgages, student loans.	Mortgage, car loans, RV loan.
Net worth	$336,000	$898,888
Source of income	Chief deputy clerk’s salary, rent.	Business salary.
Personal	She is divorced with two adult sons.	Tipton and his wife, Sandy, have been married 35 years and have two adult children.
Web site	Yes	Yes
E-mail	Yes	Yes

About the job: The Pasco County clerk of the circuit court is responsible for storing and recording county and circuit court records and papers, officially recorded documents such as property deeds, and keeping the minutes of County Commission meetings. The clerk is elected countywide for a four-year term. The clerk oversees a $28-million operation with more than 370 employees. The job pays $136,777 this year.