Clerk credentials compared

One candidate who has been employed in the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court office for 24 years, and a second candidate who, as an attorney, has been active in working and filing cases for 25 years will face off on Oct. 22 to determine who will head that administrative center.

Theresa Robichaux is the current chief deputy clerk of court who is counting on her experience within the courthouse office to carry her into the elected position.

Houma lawyer, J. Louis “Bubba” Watkins, touts his experience as a business owner as well as a barrister, and claims those skills offer him the ability to bring fresh life into the role of top parish record keeper.

When asked about improvements for her current workplace, Robichaux said the only thing she would change is to enhance the use of technology.

“I’d like to have a user-friendly website where people can find information,” Robichaux said. “[For example], people with jury duty status or installation of office could check the [online] department before they have to come to the office.”

Robichaux said she would like to streamline the jury selection process by developing a selection poll. “We could save money by cutting down on the people we need,” she said.

Watkins also stressed advanced use of technology in the Clerk of Court office as a priority. “The office is so behind the technology curve, it will take internal and external resources to bring it up to date in a reasonable period,” he said.

Both candidates said that use of the Internet would allow the public greater access to their records. “My mission will be to back up all the existing records in the clerk’s office so they can be safely stored off-site, protecting them from fire and floods,” Watkins said.

Watkins said that another area of concern for him regarding the Clerk of Court office includes a lack of “modern business practices in all phases of the operation.” He indicated that if elected he would implement regular staff meetings, a performance evaluation system, job descriptions and an organizational chart, and enforce time keeping accountability.

“If I am elected, I will immediately conduct a thorough analysis of all functions and processes to determine inefficiency, duplicate functions and overstaffing,” Watkins said. “I will then allocate the resources in the proper places to start becoming more customer friendly, more productive and begin embracing technology.”

Robichaux said she wants to continue with a system that for her has been working. Watkins insisted there is a need for improvement.

While Robichaux has questioned the use of money for continued education, Watkins said he viewed the expenditure of employee training and skills enhancement as an investment.

Robichaux said her years working in the Clerk of Court office offer her an advantage. Watkins said his coming from outside that group has given him a greater variety of experience that is necessary for the job.