Editor, Suffolk News-Herald;

On Nov. 4, 2003, the citizens of Suffolk will go to the polls to elect the next clerk of the circuit court of the City of Suffolk. I have served on the city council and I am aware of the importance of this position has on all the citizens of Suffolk.

The clerk has over 800 separate legal duties in addition to administering that office. I have had the opportunity to examine all of the candidates for this position.

Upon my review of the candidates, I feel there is one candidate that has all the qualifications needed for this office. That person is W.R. &uot;Randy&uot; Carter Jr. Mr. Carter has been a practicing attorney for some 22 years. During that time, he has practiced in the private sector for five years in which he handled all of the matters that are handled in the clerk’s office. For the last 17 years, he has served the citizens of Suffolk as a deputy Commonwealth’s attorney’s office.

I have had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Carter being active in the community. Like me, he has been active in the Ruritans for many years. But his community service is not just limited to that organization. He has also served other organizations well during that time as well.

There are a number of candidates to choose from. Some have no experience in the legal system while others say that based upon their limited experience in the clerk’s office, they would be appointed other than having to be elected. That ignores the fact that we have been electing Constitutional officers in this state for close to 200 years. I feel that it is important that the citizens have the choice of who serves them rather than someone appointing them.

But, when you look at all of the qualifications, Henry Murden, who served the citizens well for over 50 years, knew best as to who should be the next clerk when he endorsed Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter has also been endorsed by Raleigh Isaacs, Sheriff; Phil Ferguson, Commonwealth’s attorney; the Suffolk Democratic Committee; the Suffolk Police Officer’s Association; Suffolk Professional Fire and Rescue; and the Citizen’s Academy Alumni Association. These people and organizations recognize Mr. Carter’s outstanding qualifications.

I will be casting my vote for Randy Carter on Nov. 4 and I urge you to do the same.

W. Rufus Powell

Aspen Court

Suffolk