"Charlottesville Democrats overwhelmingly nominated Paul C. Garrett on Thursday night as their candidate for clerk of the Circuit Court, paving the way for the incumbent’s fourth term as the city’s top record keeper.

Before sweeping nearly 80 percent of the city’s precincts, Garrett told the crowd of more than 200 Democrats he cared about his duties as clerk, which include preserving documents such as deeds and wills, collecting court fees and assisting the public in searching court documents and obtaining marriage licenses.

The annual salary for the constitutional office, based on population in the city, is $91,364.

Some have pointed to Garrett’s years of dedication to the local Democratic Party in pledging their support.

“Paul has paid his dues and for 22 years has been a loyal vote-getter for the Democratic party,” Patricia Edwards said in a nominating speech for Garrett.

Challenger Vanessa E. Hicks had called for customer service improvements at the clerk’s office during her campaign. She received support from several local attorneys, including Public Defender Jim Hingeley, who nominated her Thursday night.*

Hicks, who currently works in the public defender’s office, earned her law degree at Washington and Lee University and worked as an attorney in Lexington, Fairfax and Lynchburg before moving to Charlottesville in 1998.

A native of Charlottesville, Garrett graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law, was a lawyer in the Air Force and served as assistant city attorney for Charlottesville before becoming clerk of the court in 1981.

Garrett does not know whom — if anyone — he will face in the Nov. 4 general election. So far, no Republicans have officially announced their candidacy." (Liesel Nowak, The Daily Progress, May 23, 2003)

Contact Liesel Nowak at (434) 978-7274 or lnowak@dailyprogress.com

Editor's Note: The following message* was received from Kay Peaslee: "Thanks for the coverage of Vannessa Hicks' candidacy for Clerk of the Circuit Court. There was one mistake in your report, which followed the Progress' report: I nominated Vannessa and James Hingely seconded her nomination. Just wanted to set the record straight." (electronic mail, May 25, 2003)

The full vote totals are as follows (first the raw vote; then the Caucus Vote totals) provided by Lloyd Snook (electronic mail, May 26, 2003):