Introducing Voters to Community Leaders
By Lori Kersey
Filing for a marriage license. Buying a house. Voting in an election. Paying taxes.
These innocuous tasks that make up the fabric of everyday life are tied together by a common thread—a visit to the county courthouse. From the county clerk who files vital records like birth and marriage certificates, to the county commissioner who enacts ordinances, to the sheriff who enforces the law, county government touches people’s lives arguably more than any other level of government.
The West Virginia Association of Counties (WVACo) wants to make sure everyone knows what their county officials do and how their work affects their lives. The organization, which represents West Virginia’s elected county officials, has launched a series of videos to teach residents about the roles of each of the six elected county government officials: assessor, circuit clerk, clerk, commissioner, prosecuting attorney and sheriff.
The one-minute videos feature elected officials from different West Virginia counties talking about the responsibilities of their position. For example, a sheriff is responsible for a county’s law enforcement and court security, but most people are surprised to find out that the sheriff’s office is also the county treasurer and tax collector.
In one of the videos, Mason County Clerk Diana Cromley explains that she is the record keeper for her county and her office is where people come to get copies of birth certificates, marriage licenses, land records and death certificates. Her office is also responsible for paying all the counties’ bills and preparing payroll.
Another featured video about county clerks titled “Protecting Democracy” focuses on voting. It tells residents what they need in order to register to vote and how to find their polling place before Election Day. It also explains that citizens can vote early at their county courthouse or with an absentee ballot if they qualify.
Each clip ends with an invitation encouraging viewers to stop by the courthouse to see what their county has to offer.
Videos for two positions—circuit clerk and commissioner—are still in the works. The video clips are being posted on the WVACo Facebook page in an attempt to capture the attention of younger voters who may know less about county government.
“The WVACo acquired professional services in order to produce informative videos about county government in digital form,” says Randolph County Assessor Phyllis Yokum, who also serves as president of the WVACo board of directors. “Our younger citizens are very computer- and technology-oriented, and we felt we could better reach the younger generation if we shared our videos on the internet and through social media.”
People often need to visit a courthouse during a stressful time in their lives. They may need to pick up a death certificate after a loved one passes or obtain a copy of their birth certificate so they can get a passport to travel abroad. Knowing exactly where to go and what to ask for can make things easier for people, according to Perri DeChristopher, Monongalia County prosecutor and member of the WVACo board of directors.
“If they knew those things a little earlier on, it might make what is maybe a stressful situation a little less stressful,” he says.
Locally elected officials are often approached by people in the community with questions and concerns. Part of the drive behind the video series is letting people know their elected officials are eager to help.
“County government is the government that governs the least, in a way,” says Jonathan Adler, executive director of the WVACo. “It’s very quiet. The courthouse is just there, and it provides so many services that people don’t stop and think about that.”
The WVACo Academy
What began as a way for the West Virginia Association of Counties (WVACo) to educate its members will expand to reach even more people in 2020.
The WVACo Academy was created in 2016 to provide affordable online classes specifically for county government entities and employees on topics ranging from office procedures and human resources to law enforcement, risk management and safety. This summer, the organization plans to relaunch the academy, offering more classes to more people than ever before.
“We’re actually going to be promoting this statewide,” says WVACo Membership Director Kathy Yates. “We will be reaching out to the state fire marshal, volunteer fire departments and similar groups so they can get those required courses at a lower cost.”
The association’s partnership with LocalGovU, an online learning solution company, will allow the courses to be offered at a lower rate for West Virginians.
“The WVACo exists to serve the county officials in all 55 counties of the Mountain State. Our vision is to be a strong, unified partner in creating a better West Virginia,” says Yates. “Being able to make these courses available to West Virginians at an affordable rate allows us to continue to contribute to building a better West Virginia.”
