Meet the Houston County Superior Court Clerk candidates – Superior Court Clerk Carolyn V. Sullivan

For the first time in 38 years, Carolyn Sullivan, Superior Court Clerk of Houston County, has a challenger, but Sullivan states she is ready to preserve the past while moving into the future, and asks for the citizens continued support.

Sullivan (Republican incumbent) faces Angela Anderson (Democratic candidate) for Superior Court Clerk of Houston County in the November 3 General Election.

Sullivan was born in Springfield, Ohio where her father worked at a military base there, but later closed in the early 1960s. She said her father was given three choices to relocate, which were Texas, Oklahoma or Georgia.

“My mother chose Georgia, and so my father was transferred to Robins Air Force Base,” Sullivan said laughing. “But we moved here when I was 15 years old and we fell in love with it the day we stepped off the train in Macon; it was just beautiful. Well I attended and graduated from Perry High School, and a girl in my class was having some problems and couldn’t attend school anymore. The school allowed me to tutor her so that she could graduate with our class. Her father was then the Clerk of Superior Court, Tommie Hunt. When I graduated in June 1965, that same year on August 11, he asked me if I wanted a job. So I said yes, he asked when could I start, and I said immediately. Well I never filled out an application and the rest is history, I have been with the county now for 55 years.”

Sullivan worked her way through each department, and within 17 years she became the Chief Deputy Clerk, which also has the responsibility of by Georgia Law that if the Superior Court Clerk passes away or leaves in the middle of a term then the Chief Deputy automatically becomes the interim Superior Court Clerk. Upon the sudden passing of then clerk, Tommie Hunt in 1982, Sullivan became the interim Superior Court Clerk. She then ran for office with three other challengers, and won.

“It’s been a fun ride ever since,” Sullivan said. “I have been the head clerk now for 38 years, but have worked here in this office for 55 years. I will be honest; I was set to retire, but my husband, Joel, who was in law enforcement, passed away. And when he passed I realized, I truly do love my job and the people of this county, so I am not ready to leave. I am in good health and have great relationships with my staff. My chief deputy has been with me for 26 years, and in our office we really don’t have many vacancies because we all work so well together. So I want to continue my mission which is to preserve and maintain county records, to record documents expeditiously and index them accurately and to provide up-to-date records to those that need them in a courteous, efficient and timely manner.”

Over her time as Superior Court Clerk, Sullivan has received the following accomplishments and recognitions:

•Received the prestigious “Georgia County Officer of the Year” award

•Two-time “Clerk of the Year” for the Third Judicial District of Georgia

•Two-time President of the Georgia Council of Superior Court Clerks

•President of the Superior Court Clerk’s Association of Georgia

•Chairman of the Training Council of Superior Court Clerks

“Soon, thanks to the Houston County Board of Commissioners and the taxpayers, we’re going to start our new online case management system,” Sullivan said. “This is a SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) project. I want to say I have put off doing a lot of improvements because why ‘re-invent the wheel’ when we have this new system starting up. I didn’t see it as appropriate to spend additional county dollars, when this new system is going to be implemented. I have always been mindful of the county’s funds, as we realize that some things such as patrol cars, etc. are more important. Again, I ask for everyone’s continued support in re-electing me as the Superior Court Clerk of Houston County.”

For more information about Sullivan or to keep up with her campaign, go online to www.carolynsullivanclerk.com or the Facebook page, Carolyn Sullivan for Superior Court Clerk.

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