Editor, the News-Herald,

I am pleased to endorse Randy Carter for

clerk of the Circuit Court for the city of Suffolk. I do so because I believe it is critical that we elect the most qualified person for this extremely important office.

Randy Carter by way of education, experience and community service, has prepared himself for this position and is the candidate best qualified to serve the people.

Randy is the one candidate who can step into the clerk’s office and hit the ground running. Moreover, Randy has the ability to take the clerk’s office to the next level while at the same time continuing its tradition of service to the people of Suffolk.

His ability and background are especially important in light of the fact that Mr. Henry C. Murden, former clerk, recently passed away and is unavailable to render any assistance to the new clerk. Prior to his death, Mr. Murden publicly endorsed Mr. Carter for the clerk’s job.

The

clerk’s office will affect every person at some point in their lives as its duties and responsibilities are enormous and complex.

Randy has been a licensed practicing attorney for over 20 years. During that time he has been involved with every aspect of the

clerk’s office. Randy was in private practice for five years and served as a commissioner in chancery. He has served for the past 17 years first as an assistant and now as a deputy commonwealth’s attorney.

One of the greatest challenges facing the new clerk will be the continued enhancement of the computerization of that office. Randy is the one candidate with an exceptional knowledge of office computerization.

While serving as a deputy commonwealth’s attorney, Randy has been the person chiefly responsible for ensuring that this office has been on the cutting edge from a computerization standpoint.

Further, because of his service in the commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, Randy is the only candidate who has been directly involved with the administration of a constitutional office.

By way of background, Randy is a graduate of the Suffolk Public Schools, Virginia Tech and Campbell University School of Law. In addition to his service as a practicing attorney, Randy has served as a lecturer and instructor on a wide range of legal topics to many different groups and agencies. Moreover, Randy has an outstanding record of leadership in community service. He is a member and former senior warden of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. He is a member and past president of the Suffolk Ruritan Club, Zone One Lt. Governor, and a past chairman of the Suffolk Peanut Festival and Suffolk Ruritan Club Shrimp Feast. He is also a member or former member of the Boards of Suffolk Festivals Inc., Fifth District Community Corrections, and the American Red Cross.

If elected, Randy has pledged to maintain an emphasis on customer service while at the same time continuing the computerization of the clerk’s office to include online access for the public.

In addition, Randy will provide community outreach to educate the citizens on services available to them in the clerk’s office. Randy’s qualifications as well as his passion and vision for the office separate him from the other candidates.

In short, Randy Carter is the person best qualified to serve the citizens of Suffolk as its clerk of circuit court. He has a plan to take the office to the next level while maintaining a tradition of service to the people.

On Nov. 4, 2003, I ask you to join me in voting for and electing Randy Carter as our next clerk of circuit court.

C. Phillips Ferguson

Commonwealth’s Attorney