Two newcomers vie for office of Clerk of District Court
By Michele Linck, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, October 30, 2006
Two friends, neither of whom has held elective office before, will face off at the ballot box on Nov. 7 for the office of Clerk of District Court in Dakota County.
Democrat Valerie Danielson and Republican Mary Goodman Gamble both are hoping to fill the seat left vacant by the retirement of Lynnette Beerman, clerk of District Court for the past eight years.
Danielson, 55, of 305 E. 33rd Street, South Sioux City, is a career legal secretary. She said she believes she has the skills needed to be the clerk.
"I think you have to have good insight into the law and the different filings," she said. "You'd better be able to get along with the different attorneys and judges -- and I've worked with them for a number of years."
Danielson said she is highly organized and uses a tracking system that helps her be prepared ahead of time for each task.
She said a major principle of her office, if elected, will be confidentiality. Danielson said a staff that can keep things confidential will be vital to her and she will begin seeking those three people immediately after the election. She said she hopes the two current staff members will apply, but will open the process to everyone.
Danielson said she's worked as a legal secretary for 21 years, starting in the office of the late South Sioux City attorney Bob Scoville.
Danielson grew up in South Sioux City and graduated from South Sioux City High School and took her paralegal training at Morningside College. She also earned a degree in real estate law, math and principles at Wayne (Neb.) State College, and a degree in medical terminology from Western Iowa Tech community College, where she also studied office management.
She is the daughter of County Commissioner Betty O'Neil.
Republican Mary Goodman Gamble, 44, lives at 606 S. 17th Street, Dakota City.
Goodman Gamble graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1980 and has eight years of "on the job training" as an officer manager and legal secretary. She worked mostly in the office of the Dakota County Public Defender, under several different attorneys, and currently works as a legal secretary in the County Attorney's office.
Goodman Gamble said that through her experience working for both the defense and prosecution she has a thorough overall knowledge of the court system. She said the ability to serve the public in a professional manner, and her prior experience as an office manager qualify her to oversee an "efficiently run" office.
She said her guiding principles as Clerk of District Court would be "to serve the public with courtesy and efficiency in a professional manner and to assist the judge and his staff in maintaining an efficient court system." She said she is pursuing the office because, "I'm confident I can do a good job." She said people should vote for her because she is familiar with the court system and is "honest and loyal and hardworking."
Goodman Gamble may become an adversary of the county in a legal matter still pending. She referred questions to her attorney, James Zalewski of Lincoln.
Goodman Gamble was fired in March by then-Public Defender Bryan E. Smith Jr., for whom she worked as a legal secretary. Smith said in front of a witness that he terminated her employment for supporting his opponent in the fall election, something she denied doing. He later made allegations that she didn't keep confidences of the office, which she also denies.
Smith resigned Aug. 7 under pressure from the County Board of Commissioners after Zalewski sent a letter to Smith demanding monetary payment for damages to her reputation and for violating her constitutional right to free speech. The letter said Goodman Gamble "will consider all available claims ... as well as action against the county under similar claims."
Asked recently if it is still possible his client would sue Smith or the county, Zalewski responded, "We don't know yet; it's still too premature. We've tried to resolve it and we'll see what happens."
Goodman Gamble filed to run for office in January, long before Smith fired her.
Democrat Valerie Danielson and Republican Mary Goodman Gamble both are hoping to fill the seat left vacant by the retirement of Lynnette Beerman, clerk of District Court for the past eight years.
Danielson, 55, of 305 E. 33rd Street, South Sioux City, is a career legal secretary. She said she believes she has the skills needed to be the clerk.
"I think you have to have good insight into the law and the different filings," she said. "You'd better be able to get along with the different attorneys and judges -- and I've worked with them for a number of years."
Danielson said she is highly organized and uses a tracking system that helps her be prepared ahead of time for each task.
She said a major principle of her office, if elected, will be confidentiality. Danielson said a staff that can keep things confidential will be vital to her and she will begin seeking those three people immediately after the election. She said she hopes the two current staff members will apply, but will open the process to everyone.
Danielson said she's worked as a legal secretary for 21 years, starting in the office of the late South Sioux City attorney Bob Scoville.
Danielson grew up in South Sioux City and graduated from South Sioux City High School and took her paralegal training at Morningside College. She also earned a degree in real estate law, math and principles at Wayne (Neb.) State College, and a degree in medical terminology from Western Iowa Tech community College, where she also studied office management.
She is the daughter of County Commissioner Betty O'Neil.
Republican Mary Goodman Gamble, 44, lives at 606 S. 17th Street, Dakota City.
Goodman Gamble graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1980 and has eight years of "on the job training" as an officer manager and legal secretary. She worked mostly in the office of the Dakota County Public Defender, under several different attorneys, and currently works as a legal secretary in the County Attorney's office.
Goodman Gamble said that through her experience working for both the defense and prosecution she has a thorough overall knowledge of the court system. She said the ability to serve the public in a professional manner, and her prior experience as an office manager qualify her to oversee an "efficiently run" office.
She said her guiding principles as Clerk of District Court would be "to serve the public with courtesy and efficiency in a professional manner and to assist the judge and his staff in maintaining an efficient court system." She said she is pursuing the office because, "I'm confident I can do a good job." She said people should vote for her because she is familiar with the court system and is "honest and loyal and hardworking."
Goodman Gamble may become an adversary of the county in a legal matter still pending. She referred questions to her attorney, James Zalewski of Lincoln.
Goodman Gamble was fired in March by then-Public Defender Bryan E. Smith Jr., for whom she worked as a legal secretary. Smith said in front of a witness that he terminated her employment for supporting his opponent in the fall election, something she denied doing. He later made allegations that she didn't keep confidences of the office, which she also denies.
Smith resigned Aug. 7 under pressure from the County Board of Commissioners after Zalewski sent a letter to Smith demanding monetary payment for damages to her reputation and for violating her constitutional right to free speech. The letter said Goodman Gamble "will consider all available claims ... as well as action against the county under similar claims."
Asked recently if it is still possible his client would sue Smith or the county, Zalewski responded, "We don't know yet; it's still too premature. We've tried to resolve it and we'll see what happens."
Goodman Gamble filed to run for office in January, long before Smith fired her.
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Robert wrote on Nov 5, 2006 8:52 AM:
Young Dakota County Voter wrote on Nov 3, 2006 2:34 PM:
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Robert wrote on Oct 30, 2006 8:55 AM: