Goals of my Administration

1. Reduce Department Expenses by $500,000 over the first 12 months 

The workload of the Clerk-Recorder has decreased due to the drop in the real estate transactions and downturn in the economy. The staff levels need to be reviewed and staff reductions should be considered.  In light of the reduced volume of transactions and reduced recording income, I believe a smaller management organizational structure should be implemented and I will examine the organization from top to bottom to find savings for the County and taxpayers. I will review the need of each management and administrative position to determine if it is needed and whether an alternative smaller management structure should be implemented.

2.  Improve Systems and Business Processes to Serve the Public 

The Clerk-Recorder Office processes an average of 50,000 real property documents per month and thousands of requests for Marriage Licenses and copies of Marriage, Birth and Death records. In recent years the County has added two satellite offices, Laguna Hills and Fullerton. These offices provide a means for citizens to access the services of the Clerk-Recorder without a trip to the Santa Ana Civic Center. Also, systems have been implemented such as Online Marriage License Application System. I support these initiatives to make services available using technology and optimizing use of small satellite offices for those services that require in-person document delivery and signatures. In the future, I will monitor the use of the satellite office and computer systems to improve service accessibility for the public.

3. Create a monthly “Public Education Workshop” on topics such as Real Estate Fraud and Identity Theft 

The Clerk-Recorder can conduct monthly workshops for the public on what services are provided by the Clerk-Recorder and how the public can access these services. These workshops can be offered at locations throughout Orange County and as webcast online education opportunities. The topics offered through these workshops can also help the public learn about new laws and ways to protect their real property and identity. This effort can be coordinated with the County Assessor, Assessment Appeals, Tax Collector, and Registrar of Voters, so a wide range of educational opportunities is available to help the public learn how to do business with the County. ..more