{"id":356998,"date":"2026-07-30T01:09:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T01:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/356998\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T01:09:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T01:09:30","slug":"qa-orange-county-clerk-of-courts-candidates-discuss-priorities-tiffany-moore-russells-tenure-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/356998\/","title":{"rendered":"Q&#038;A: Orange County Clerk of Courts candidates discuss priorities, Tiffany Moore Russell\u2019s tenure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In anticipation of the Aug. 18 primary, The Apopka Chief is running questionnaires for several major local and regional races affecting Apopka-area voters.\u00a0This week,\u00a0Orange County Clerk of Courts candidates\u00a0Rick Singh,\u00a0Terrell Thomas and Roberta Walton Johnson discussed their community backgrounds,\u00a0ideas\u00a0for\u00a0improving\u00a0the clerk\u2019s\u00a0office\u00a0and\u00a0views of\u00a0outgoing clerk Tiffany Moore Russell\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wesh.com\/article\/orange-county-commissioner-maribel-gomez-cordero-drops-out-of-race-for-clerk-of-courts\/73276266\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">According to WESH 2 News<\/a>,\u00a0Singh\u00a0sued\u00a0former candidate\u00a0Maribel Gomez Cordero\u00a0for allegedly filing her \u201cresign-to-run\u201d papers incorrectly. Cordero\u00a0then\u00a0told the Chief\u00a0on Monday that\u00a0she\u00a0had withdrawn\u00a0from the race,\u00a0saying she does \u201cnot believe it is in the best interest of the public or the campaign to continue expending taxpayer resources and campaign funds litigating this matter.\u201d\u00a0As a result,\u00a0Singh\u00a0and Walton Johnson will square off in the Democratic primary, with the winner facing Thomas, an independent candidate, in November.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read\u00a0the full Q&amp;A\u00a0below.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Become A Member<\/p>\n<p>The Apopka Chief does not have a paywall, but pavement-pounding journalism is not free. Join your neighbors who make this vital work possible.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"in-article__cta\" class=\"ct-link-button btn--m btn--secondary mdn-support-button\" href=\"https:\/\/theapopkachief.com\/become-a-member?ref=in_article_cta\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">See Member Benefits<\/a><a class=\"ct-link-button btn--m btn--primary\" href=\"https:\/\/theapopkachief.com\/newsletter-signup?ref=in_article_cta\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Join Our Newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"1012\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rick-Singh_Courtesy-of-the-Rick-Singh-campaign.jpeg\" alt=\"Rick Singh\" class=\"wp-image-749746\" style=\"width:382px;height:auto\"  \/>Courtesy of the Rick Singh campaign Rick Singh<\/p>\n<p>Rick Singh,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ricksingh407\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">former Orange County\u00a0property appraiser<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What about your professional and community\u00a0backgrounds\u00a0makes\u00a0you the best candidate?\u00a0<br \/>As a U.S. Army veteran and former two-term Orange County Property Appraiser, I led a constitutional office with a focus on efficiency,\u00a0accountability\u00a0and customer service. We modernized operations, reduced paper, built community\u00a0partnerships\u00a0and earned national recognition for serving taxpayers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What prompted you to run for Orange County\u00a0Clerk of\u00a0Courts?\u00a0<br \/>Having served Orange County in a constitutional office, I understand that public trust is earned through competence,\u00a0integrity\u00a0and results. I am running to bring that experience to the Clerk\u2019s Office by modernizing operations, protecting court records, improving access to\u00a0services\u00a0and delivering responsive, professional service to every resident!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What are the three most pressing areas for improvement in the Orange County Clerk of Courts\u2019 administrative operations, and how would you address them?\u00a0<br \/>First, modernize technology by expanding secure online services, streamlining filings, reducing wait\u00a0times\u00a0and strengthening cybersecurity to better protect court records.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Second, improve customer service by setting clear performance standards, reducing processing delays, expanding multilingual\u00a0resources\u00a0and exploring innovative employee childcare options to help recruit and\u00a0retain\u00a0a dedicated workforce.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Third, strengthen transparency and accountability by publishing meaningful performance measures, practicing responsible\u00a0financial\u00a0management\u00a0and regularly reporting results to the public.\u00a0During my tenure as Orange County Property Appraiser, I modernized operations, reduced paper through digital improvements and built partnerships that delivered measurable results.\u00a0I will bring that same commitment to innovation,\u00a0efficiency\u00a0and responsive public service to the Clerk\u2019s Office!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Outgoing clerk Tiffany Moore Russell, who is now running for Orange County mayor, was first elected Orange County Clerk of Courts in 2014. During her tenure, she\u00a0established\u00a0a self-help center, launched Operation Greenlight to create payment plans, and extended branch office hours to Saturdays, according to her campaign website. Which of her priorities do you support, and where might you have taken a different approach?\u00a0<br \/>I support programs that make the court system more accessible, including the self-help center, Operation\u00a0Greenlight\u00a0and expanded office hours. Those initiatives help residents resolve issues and navigate the court system more effectively. I would build on that foundation by expanding secure online services, strengthening\u00a0cybersecurity\u00a0and making more routine transactions available digitally.\u00a0For example, jury summons should be offered electronically, while those who prefer paper notices should continue to have that\u00a0option. I also believe the Clerk\u2019s Office should\u00a0establish\u00a0clear performance standards, regularly measure\u00a0results\u00a0and continually look for ways to improve service. Government should evolve with technology while\u00a0remaining transparent,\u00a0accountable\u00a0and focused on meeting the needs of the people it serves.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where can voters go to learn more about you?\u00a0<br \/>Visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.votericksingh.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">VoteRickSingh.com<\/a>\u00a0to learn more about my background, priorities, endorsements, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and how to get involved.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"747\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Terrell-Thomas_Courtesy-of-Terrell-Thomas-747x1024.png\" alt=\"Terrell Thomas\" class=\"wp-image-749749\" style=\"width:409px;height:auto\"  \/>Courtesy of Terrell Thomas Terrell Thomas<\/p>\n<p>Terrell Thomas,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thomasforclerk.com\/meet-terrell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">owner of Dev.G9 Digital<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What\u00a0about\u00a0your professional and community\u00a0backgrounds\u00a0makes\u00a0you the best candidate?\u00a0<br \/>I offer\u00a0nearly 30\u00a0years of court technology and public service experience, including\u00a0nearly 20\u00a0years with the Orange County Clerk\u2019s Office and leadership modernizing courts nationwide. My deep civic engagement through serving churches across Central Florida has strengthened my commitment to\u00a0community. I bring experience, relationships, and vision to lead the Clerk\u2019s Office forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What prompted you to run for Orange County\u00a0Clerk of\u00a0Courts?\u00a0<br \/>Serving in the Clerk\u2019s Office shaped my career and my life. After gaining\u00a0additional\u00a0leadership and technology experience in the private sector, I felt called to return and serve the organization that invested in me by preserving its legacy while preparing it for the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What are the three most pressing areas for improvement in the Orange County Clerk of Courts\u2019 administrative\u00a0operations, and how\u00a0would\u00a0you address them?\u00a0<br \/>My vision is built on three priorities:\u00a0People First, Community Focused, and Future Ready.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, I will invest in employees by strengthening leadership development, improving workplace culture, and creating opportunities for professional growth because exceptional public service begins with engaged employees.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Second, I will expand community accessibility by increasing outreach, improving awareness of Clerk services, and exploring mobile service opportunities that bring government closer to residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Third, I will modernize operations by maximizing existing technology investments, improving cybersecurity, simplifying online services, and using data-driven decision-making and responsible artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency, transparency, and customer service.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These priorities will build upon the office\u2019s\u00a0strong foundation\u00a0while ensuring Orange County residents receive responsive, innovative, and trusted public service for years to come.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Outgoing clerk Tiffany Moore Russell, who is now running for Orange County mayor, was first elected Orange County Clerk of Courts in 2014. During her tenure, she\u00a0established\u00a0a self-help center, launched Operation Greenlight to create payment plans, and extended branch office hours to Saturdays, according to her campaign website. Which of her priorities do you support, and where might you have taken a different approach?\u00a0<br \/>I support initiatives that expand access to justice and improve customer service, including the Self-Help Center, Operation Greenlight, and expanded service opportunities. Those programs\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0a commitment to meeting residents\u2019 needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Building on that foundation, I would place\u00a0additional\u00a0emphasis on employee engagement, community outreach, and continuous innovation. My experience implementing court technology has shown me how modern tools can improve efficiency while making\u00a0government\u00a0more accessible and transparent.\u00a0I also believe leadership\u00a0begins with listening \u2013 working alongside employees, the judiciary, attorneys, and the community to\u00a0identify\u00a0opportunities for improvement.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My goal\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0to replace successful programs, but to strengthen them while preparing the Clerk\u2019s Office for the future through thoughtful leadership, operational excellence, and responsible innovation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where can voters go to learn more about you?\u00a0<br \/>Visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thomasforclerk.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">ThomasForClerk.com<\/a>\u00a0to learn about my vision, campaign priorities, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and how\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0moving Orange County\u00a0Clerk Forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"682\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roberta-Walton-Johnson_Courtesy-of-Roberta-Walton-Johnson-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Roberta Walton Johnson\" class=\"wp-image-749750\" style=\"width:397px;height:auto\"  \/>Courtesy of Roberta Walton Johnson Roberta Walton Johnson<\/p>\n<p>Roberta Walton Johnson,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/robertawaltonjohnson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">general counsel\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0Orange County Clerk of Courts<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What\u00a0about\u00a0your professional and community\u00a0backgrounds\u00a0makes\u00a0you the best candidate?\u00a0<br \/>As a licensed attorney, public servant, and the current General Counsel for Orange County Clerk\u2019s Office, I am uniquely qualified to serve as the next elected Clerk of Court. For over a decade, I have worked inside the Clerk\u2019s Office protecting public records and expanding access to justice with integrity.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What prompted you to run for Orange County\u00a0Clerk of\u00a0Courts?\u00a0<br \/>The Clerk\u2019s Office is the gateway to our justice system. My experience affords me a firsthand opportunity about how important this office is to the daily lives of our community.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0running because Orange County deserves experienced leadership that is accessible, accountable, and ready to lead on Day One.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What are the three most pressing areas for improvement in the Orange County Clerk of Courts\u2019 administrative\u00a0operations, and how\u00a0would\u00a0you address them?\u00a0<br \/>My priorities include investing in our workforce, expanding technology to\u00a0leverage\u00a0public access to the courts, strengthening public education about the Clerk\u2019s role, increasing multilingual services, and making it easier for residents to navigate court services.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many residents\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0understand the services the Clerk provides until\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0faced with a stressful moment in life. We can do more through technology, community outreach, multilingual resources, educational partnerships, and user-friendly online services.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My vision is for the Clerk\u2019s Office to be more than a place people visit when they have a problem. It should be a trusted community resource that connects people to the courts with professionalism, transparency, and compassion.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Outgoing clerk Tiffany Moore Russell, who is now running for Orange County mayor, was first elected Orange County Clerk of Courts in 2014. During her tenure, she\u00a0established\u00a0a self-help center, launched Operation Greenlight to create payment plans, and extended branch office hours to Saturdays, according to her campaign website. Which of her priorities do you support, and where might you have taken a different approach?\u00a0<br \/>As the inaugural Operations Manager tapped to carry out Clerk Russell\u2019s vision for the\u00a0Self Help\u00a0Center, I will certainly expand upon the initiative to help residents navigate complex\u00a0legal and quality of life issues to further position the Clerk\u2019s Office as the first stop for residents who are overwhelmed by the court system. Additionally, I will expand on both virtual and in-person opportunities like \u201cSaturday Service\u201d and \u201cOperation Greenlight\u201d to help residents address the life issues that often bring them into contact with the court system among a few other transformative initiatives to bridge\u00a0justice and community.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This work\u00a0impacts\u00a0real people, real families, and our entire community every day. I thoroughly understand the responsibilities of the role of Clerk, and I have the experience\u00a0to lead\u00a0the office successfully on Day One.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where can voters go to learn more about you?\u00a0<br \/>I respectfully ask for your vote on August 18th for Orange County Clerk. To learn more, visit our social media\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/roberta4clerk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">@Roberta4Clerk<\/a>\u00a0or online at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/voteroberta.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">voteroberta.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                                                                                                                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2-1.png\"  class=\"multiple_authors_guest_author_avatar avatar\" height=\"80\" width=\"80\"\/>                                                                                                                                                                                                            <\/p>\n<p>Sarah Merly is an editorial assistant and reporter for The Apopka Chief. She joined the Chief in May 2025 after graduating from Patrick Henry College&#8217;s journalism program in Washington, D.C., where she served as the layout editor for her school newspaper. In her spare time, Sarah loves serving her local church, visiting Disney, and throwing parties.<\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                                                <a class=\"ppma-author-user_email-profile-data ppma-author-field-meta ppma-author-field-type-email\" aria-label=\"Email\" href=\"https:\/\/theapopkachief.com\/mailto:smerly@theapopkachief.com\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> <\/a><\/p>\n<p>        <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In anticipation of the Aug. 18 primary, The Apopka Chief is running questionnaires for several major local and&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":356771,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[139,141,140],"class_list":["post-356998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/356998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=356998"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/356998\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/356771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=356998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=356998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=356998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}