Name: John Flemm
Town of residence: DeBary
Background, education, etc.: I’m a husband and Florida Native born in Volusia County. I’m a small business owner, a shareholder in my family ranch, and a board member of a conservative non-profit which bestows over half-a-million dollars in charitable grants each year.
What made you decide to run for office? As a proud son of Volusia County, born in Daytona Beach, I have always loved my home. After I began the process of becoming a soldier in the Florida State Guard, I still felt the need to do more. My family and friends convinced me to further serve my community. I’m an America First Republican and a lifelong Floridian. I’m a husband, a small business owner, a shareholder in my family ranch, and a board member of a conservative non-profit that bestows half-a-million dollars in charitable grants each year.
What do you want to accomplish in office? I believe the most pressing issue facing The Clerk’s Office is engagement. Most people don’t know their Clerk nor even really understand the role. As Clerk, I’ll prioritize community outreach to inform people about their state and county resources while delivering a fresh energy to the administration of The Clerk’s Office.
Why should people vote for you and not your opponent(s)? We must restore trust and conservative values to The Office of the Clerk by prioritizing fiscal accountability, government transparency, and easier accessibility to our justice system. Now is the time to champion a new future, grounded in common sense, and deliver a strong conservative to The Office of the Clerk.
How you will handle it when your personal views differ from what your constituents want? Volusia is a majority Republican county. The Clerk is a partisan official and Volusia County residents deserve to be represented by their democratically elected conservative values. If some people don’t like it, they don’t have to live here. However, we will serve all people equally regardless of political affiliation.
Transparency: The Clerk’s Office requires greater transparency. Our justice system is being weaponized and residents need to understand what is happening in their courts.
Public records: As Clerk, I will confidentially maintain, preserve, and manage access to all public records. Easier access to justice improves the lives of all residents.
Court fees: I believe court fees must be lowered to improve residents’ ability to access our justice system. Justice must be available when residents need it most.
Public outreach: I will prioritize public outreach to ensure our constituents understand the role of The Clerk, informing our residents of their many state and county resources.
Name: Laura E. Roth
Town of residence: DeLand
Background, education, etc.: Military family upbringing — U.S. Navy. A.A. Degree, Tallahassee Community College, FL (4.0 GPA). Bachelor’s Degree Eckerd College, St. Pete, FL (Highest Honors). Juris Doctorate (Law Degree), University of Arizona, AZ (Magna Cum Laude)
What made you decide to run for office? I am the current elected Clerk of the Circuit Court. I love the office, my Team, and we have exciting goals to accomplish. We are achieving new heights in service excellence and want to continue. With the numerous important services provided by the Clerk’s office, Volusia County deserves a qualified, local leader in this role.
What do you want to accomplish in office? Our focus for the office has been to create a teamwork-based environment where our collective mission to make accurate information accessible to all is more important than our individual interests. We strive to achieve a care-based service model and improvements in processing speed that exceed expectations. We have made huge strides, and have done so efficiently and under-budget every year.
Why should people vote for you and not your opponent(s)? I am the only candidate with the qualifications and experience necessary to understand the office’s complexities, challenges, and goals. I have demonstrated my dedication to serving as Volusia County’s Clerk with excellence, and have been recognized locally and statewide for accomplishments in this role. My opponent is not from Volusia County and has no relevant experience whatsoever.
How you will handle it when your personal views differ from what your constituents want? Personal views rarely come into play in this role as the neutral, elected, constitutional officer and custodian of all Official Records (land-related records) for Volusia County, and as records custodian for the County and Circuit Courts in Volusia. Our constituents want accurate information and help, and we don’t differ on that. Our motto is We Love Helping People
Transparency: Both office budgets and over 100 million digitized public records (except for those confidential by law) are available to all, FREE online at www.clerk.org. Our core function is records transparency.
Public records: The Clerk’s Office IS public records. Our essential duty is to accurately capture, organize, and maintain public records. We have millions of easy-to-research, FREE public records at www.clerk.org.
Court fees: Currently Clerks, multiple judicial partners, and over 30 trust funds are funded from court fees, fines/costs, yet Clerk funding has been insufficient since 2008. I advocate for alternative models.
Public outreach: My absolute favorite part of being Clerk — we LOVE to share our helpful services with the public and participate in community events. Whether it’s workshops or 5K’s — you’ll find Team Clerk!
What are you voting for?
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Can you tell me what non-profit board John Flemm serves on and what is the business that he started? Thank you.
Flemm looks like if a trust fund wished to be a real boy
For anyone wondering, John Flemm’s husband is named Mark Rudman, their marriage license is public record on the clerk’s own website and Mark likes all of his husband’s campaign posts on Facebook. I wonder why he’s being so cagey about his sexuality? Live your truth, kid!
I want to publicly recommend that people vote for LAURA ROTH and keep her in office. Persons who have no reason to interact with the clerk’s office may not be fully aware of the importance of this position in our government. The need to have a highly qualified clerk who knows the role and handles the duties and responsibilities with the highest degree of ethics, organizational skills, and managerial skills can not be understated. Laura Roth has all that and more. I mean no disrespect to her opponent, as I know nothing about him, but it appears that he is attempting to disparage the job Ms. Roth has done with absolutely NO EVIDENCE of reason to do so …. it seems he is just wanting to run for an office for the sake of “getting his name out there” for his next effort at becoming an elected official for whatever position comes up next. I began practicing law in 1981 and served a a county judge for 20 years, so I speak from experience when I say that we have the absolute BEST clerk’s office in the entire state of Florida and that is because Laura Roth is at the helm (succeeding Diane Matousek who was the best there was at this job before Laura (who worked for Diane) won her first election). This position it too important to entrust it to someone who has had absolutely zero experience in the clerk’s office and who apparently has minimal understanding of the statutory requirements that are imposed upon the clerk’s office. Again, I strongly urge the reelection of LAURA ROTH.
My husband and I moved to Volusia County two years ago. We had to file records at the clerks office. I must say, that I have never seen a more professional and well ran office. It was a pleasure walking in and doing business there. I highly recommend the RE ELECTION OF LAURA ROTH.
I have a few unanswered questions for flumm. 1. Your education that will give you an insite on how to run the clerk of courts branch? 2. R u actually a Democrate candidate? I ask this because the goals you speak of is more on the left side. 3. What HAVE you done for your community in debary it’s a very small town and as I lived there I don’t know if anything you’ve done. 4. R u going to use you sexual performance as a way to take the office. I really like to see you in a debate with Roth only because I truly think you’re covering something up.