By Kathryn Young
Michelle Trout won the Rockbridge-Lexington Clerk of Court election by almost double the amount of votes garnered by each of her opponents.
She racked up 4,453 votes. In the process she defeated Dennis Ayers and David Whitesell, who received 2,378 and 2,399 votes, respectively.
The first change Trout hopes to make is to accept payment by credit and debit cards, noting it would be “very beneficial” to residents. She said she hopes to “keep the office intact, on the same track that Bruce (Patterson) has had it.”
Trout has worked as the chief deputy clerk of the Buena Vista Circuit Court for the past 16 years. She also worked several years as a deputy clerk in the Rockbridge County Circuit Court. As a result of her previous experience in courts in the area, she said she understands the amount of time involved in the work.
“I’m grateful to the citizens of Rockbridge County and the City of Lexington have confidence in me,” Trout said. “To follow in Bruce Patterson’s footsteps is very exciting. I have big shoes to fill.”
After 39 years, Rockbridge-Lexington Clerk of the Court Bruce Patterson retired from the office. Three candidates, all with courthouse experience, vied for his seat.
In the special election, held with other races, the winner will be certified around Thanksgiving by the State Board of Elections and before taking office.
Until then, Senior Deputy Clerk Brenda Anderson will continue filling Patterson’s position, as she has since Patterson’s retirement on Sept. 29.
Because Patterson retired two years into his current term, the next elected Clerk of Court will serve for the remainder of that eight-year term.
The Clerk’s office has more than 800 responsibilities, including creating and maintaining the approximately 1,600 criminal cases filed in Rockbridge County and Lexington each year, recording land transactions, handling civil cases, docketing judgments, and probating wills and appointing executors or administrators for those estates.
The Clerk also issues hunting and fishing licenses, marriage licenses and concealed gun permits. Additionally, the Clerk swears in juries and administers the oath of office for law enforcement officers and local elected officials.