Barton, Schutz set for rematch in May Primary

Together, they have over 40 years of experience in dealing with Whitley County court records and the management of court records, and this May they will be squaring off against each other in a rematch of what was probably the closest election in Whitley County history.
Gary Barton, who has served 19 years as Circuit Court Clerk, is running for his fourth term in office, and faces opposition in the Republican primary again from his former clerk, Linda Schutz, who worked in the clerk’s office for 22 years before leaving in 2000 to run against Barton.
During their first match-up, Barton garnered 1,914 votes to Schutz’s 1,912 votes in the May Primary.
Both admit they were a bit surprised by the closeness of the margin in the last race.
Barton said one factor he thinks attributed to the close margin was there were only two contested races on the ballot in the 2000 primary, which resulted in a nearly 17 percent turnout. He said this often doesn’t bode well for an incumbent.
“It’s tough when you only get that few people voting. My dad one time told me that the longer you are in office, your enemies will go vote against you, and they will take somebody with them. Your friends might go vote for you if they are not too busy that day. The last election there wasn’t that much turnout.
“It came a torrential downpour the day of the election, and nobody went out and voted,” Barton said. “I have been in this office for a while, and occasionally, I have to say no in this office. You are going to make a few people mad the longer you are in office.”
Barton said this time around, he’s trying to get out to see as many people as he can, which is more difficult for incumbents, who have to run their office in addition to campaigning.
“I leave here in the afternoons, and usually spend about three or four hours calling people, knocking on doors, and asking them to vote for me,” he noted. “It is just impossible for me to see everybody, and talk to everybody and ask them to vote for me.”
Barton said he again expects this to be a close race, and is expecting a 55 to 60 percent turnout this time around.
Schutz said the margin did surprise her six years ago because she worked so hard going door to door campaigning.
This time around, Schutz said she started campaigning earlier, and is trying to listen to people more as she campaigns. The message they are giving her is that they are dissatisfied with service at the clerk’s office.
“I just feel like people are wanting a change,” she said. “I think people are interested in the race, and are upset with how the courthouse is run, and they want a complete change. I think it is time for a change. I think people want honest leadership, friendly service, and an accessible clerk.”

Main issues
Barton said he feels the main issue in the race is that there are some people who want to just send a whole new group of officials into the courthouse.
“I have heard people say, ‘Let’s clean-out the courthouse.’ We are a separate division of the courthouse. We have nothing to do with setting payroll taxes, or anything to do with taxes at all in the county. We have nothing to do with the running of the every day operation of the county. My office is strictly in handling and issuing drivers licenses, or any paperwork that has to do with any court case.”
“I have been here for 19 years. My office is a different office than the rest of the courthouse,” Barton noted. “We are a state office. My job is to handle the paperwork for the court system. The court system is done through Frankfort and the Administrative Office of the Courts. All of my employees are state employees. I am a state employee.
Schutz said she feels the main issues in the race is about who can provide the best and most prompt service for customers.
She said that one problem with the existing office structure of the clerk’s office is that people will come in to the Williamsburg office for instance, and need to speak with someone that does a particular job, but that person may be gone at times to the Corbin office.
“Every employee should be cross trained, so people can be served without having to wait, or come back. As clerk I will cross train all the employees, which is something that has never been done before,” Schutz said. “I would be accessible to the public. So many times, people will call, and can’t get the clerk. I want to be an accessible clerk.”

Circuit Clerk duties
Schutz said the job of the circuit court clerk is to be the primary record keeper of the administrative and clerical filing and safe keeping of all district and circuit court records.
“This task is not to be taken lightly, and requires on the job knowledge,” she added.
Last year, Barton said there were about 7,000 court cases filed.
Barton said some people often confuse the circuit clerk with the county clerk, who handles deeds, car registration, and marriage licenses.
“There are some people out there, who are confused about the difference in the offices,” he added.

Why run?
Barton said he first decided to run for circuit clerk nearly two decades ago after working for his father’s Chevrolet dealership.
“Being a dealer in a small town was becoming a difficult position. I have a degree in business administration, and a minor in accounting,” Barton noted. “I knew there was going to be a vacancy in the circuit court clerk’s office because I knew Denny Patrick wasn’t going to be running for clerk.
“I felt like I have the qualification to run the office, and do a good job with the office. It is an office that does a lot of paperwork. It deals with people as far as tickets, and driver’s license. All through the years, I had dealt with people, and I felt I could do a good job as the circuit court clerk. I have enjoyed it. I have been here 19 years. It has been an interesting job. You meet interesting people.”
Schutz said she decided to run for circuit clerk after working in the office for 22 years in part because she enjoys the day to day routine of the office atmosphere.
“My experience will enable me to meet each and every issues that arises in the clerk’s office,” Schutz said. “I think after all what counts most in life is what we can do for others.”