Five questions with Sharon Fogo, Charles Rhodes

Sharon Fogo

1. What qualifications would you bring to the job of Mason County Clerk?

This is a tough, complicated job that has to be done correctly. There is little room for error and experience is essential to the task. I have worked in this office for 29 years; I know it backwards and forwards. I’ve brought it through periods of difficult change and have the ability to do so again if circumstances require it. I have to know every job in our department and be able to do it well.

This is a time of change. Recent state legislative and state Supreme Court mandates have been a challenge for county clerks everywhere in the state. Adapting to those mandates requires a deep knowledge of the system as well as flexibility and willingness to grapple with changing expectations. My work with the Washington State Association of County Clerks and the Administrative Office of the Courts has been an asset in that process. Having the opportunity to leverage their collective insights and wisdom has given me the ability to flexibly adapt to new mandates in ways that best serve our needs here at home in Mason County.

2. Beyond your qualifications, what are your personal strengths that would contribute to this position?

I believe in collaboration; I have ideas and invite people to join my ideas and frequently what comes out of that process is better for all of us. I learned this style of leadership from my mother, Marda; it requires flexibility, compassion and compromise. I work closely with judges, jurors, court administrators, law enforcement, citizens and other stakeholders. Our mandate to keep the records and preserve the integrity of the court is fixed by law; how to do that job fairly and compassionately is the meat of our mission. Accurately protecting the business and the record of the court is a big job with serious consequences if you get it wrong. If you understand the rules and stick to them, you can do that piece of the job well and I strive to do that. Being fair and respectful to everyone who approaches the court is sometimes tough. I believe deeply in being fair and I work equally hard to see that we are.

3. Why are you running for office?

I was born here and grew up in the United Methodist church. Part of Methodism is to give back to the community. I do this job well, I love it, and it’s one way I can give back to the community that has nourished me. I believe that every person who comes through our door deserves respect and to be treated with compassion.

4. How do you differ from your opponent?

I have worked in this office for 29 years. My opponent has never worked in any clerk’s office.

I treat all people with respect.

The job of the clerk is to keep a truthful and accurate record of the courts. Adherence to the truth is a necessity in this job.

Question from Charles Rhodes

RHODES: You have publicly stated, several times, that the “bright spot” in your office is passports. Given that passport application processing is not a mandated duty of the county clerk, and by your own admission is “not directly part of our mission,” how do you justify the staff hours spent processing passport applications when your office is so significantly behind in collections and document scanning and the fact that your staff is currently working many overtime hours trying to catch up on the mandated work it needs to accomplish?

FOGO: Passport processing is a popular program in high demand that provides an important service to the citizens of Mason County. It is a service we have provided for over thirty years. Contrary to what Mr. Rhoades suggests, passports are one of rare government programs at any level that actually makes money. We provide an important service, save our constituents a trip to Olympia, and make money for the county. Why would that not a bright spot?

For the record, the Clerk’s office is up to date on both current collections and document scanning. We no longer jail people for non-payment. There was formerly a state subsidy to clerks to collect those debts. It no longer exists. Moreover, all but a fraction of the money from collections goes to the state. There is also a substantial volume of cases older than twenty years, that are not legally collectable but are still part of the public record. The sheer size of that backlog makes an easy target for critics like Mr. Rhodes who ignore or don’t realize the fact that they are ghosts that are no longer available as targets.

Finally, the overtime work is a fifty year administrative backlog created by a 2021 Supreme Court decision and paid for by a state grant. Every clerk’s office in the state is in the same situation. Also, if the judge is on the record past 5 p.m. the clerk must also remain in the courtroom, and the job doesn’t finish when we go off the record.

Charles Rhodes

1. What qualifications would you bring to the job of Mason County Clerk?

I bring more than 43 years of accounting and financial expertise to this position and thereby am uniquely qualified to manage the financial aspects of the clerk’s duties. As a Certified Fraud Examiner and licensed Investigator, in both Washington and Oregon, I have worked extensively within the court system, supporting both Criminal and Civil litigation and I am thoroughly familiar with court procedures and processes.

2. Beyond your qualifications, what are your personal strengths that would contribute to this position?

I am a problem solver who enjoys a challenge and I strongly believe that honesty and hard work, together with a well thought out organized approach, is the most effective manner to resolve issues. I am ambitious and goal oriented with a take-charge leadership style. As a longtime business owner, I’ve developed the skills needed to meet deadlines, build staff morale, promote effective teamwork and provide exceptional customer service.

3. Why are you running for office?

I am running for the office of County Clerk to serve this community by bringing strong leadership to restore integrity, accountability and trust to the Clerk’s office. Ineffective leadership has resulted in the failure to fully execute the duties of the County Clerk under Washington law. I have a plan that will modernize the procedures used in the Clerk’s office, by utilizing every available resource and implementing the latest in readily available technology, to enhance and streamline the process of collections and document handling. I also intend to invest in employee training to ensure the highest levels of service to the public and the court system.

4. How do you differ from your opponent?

After graduating from high school, I enlisted in the United States Air Force. Following my military service, I earned a Bachelor’s degree, majoring in accounting with a minor in industrial relations from the University of Arkansas. I am the licensed principal of a private investigative agency and one of a handful of certified PI trainers in Washington State. Additionally, I am a Certified Fraud Examiner and hold numerous certifications within the investigative arena. Having operated my own businesses, for many years, I understand that achieving success is accomplished through perseverance.

By comparison, my opponent has spent the majority of her career as an employee of the clerk’s office. In 2017, she was appointed to the position of county clerk, to finish out the term of the then retiring clerk, bringing with her limited managerial experience. She then ran for office, un-opposed, in 2018.

Question from Sharon Fogo

FOGO: This office has a multitude of tasks that need to be accomplished daily. How would you, having never worked in a Clerk’s Office, expect to train and supervise a 12-person staff without having knowledge of the work that needs to be completed? Keep in mind if you drop the ball and fall behind on any of these tasks, the court system creaks to a stop.

RHODES: Prior to establishing my own business, I was the State Advocate for Disabled American Veterans, in Colorado. In that position I was responsible for overseeing the complex operations of 15 offices and the management of sixty employees including Assistant Advocate, Service Officers and support staff.

As an accountant and fraud examiner, I have built the trust of my clients by providing crucial services needed to accurately reflect their financial positions, protect their assets and keep them current in terms of time sensitive tax compliance.

My opponent’s record in office does not reflect the results one might expect to see from an individual touting 29 years of experience. Under my direction and leadership, state audits citing lack of internal controls over cash receipting, account reconciliations, monthly audit reports and the collection of past due accounts, leading to the failure to safeguard public resources, will be a thing of the past. Staff members will be valued and provided with the tools they need to be successful in their jobs, preventing the exodus of employees seen in the Clerk’s office in recent months.

I am fully qualified and prepared for this position and will hit the ground running on day one.