Dear Voters

I had already written a letter to the editor stating Bob Germaine's qualifications to be elected as the Clerk of the Courts. I speak from experience, having worked for several years with Mr. Germaine. There is no question that he is the only qualified candidate on the ticket.

That letter, however, goes by the wayside in light of the comments about "double-dipping" and nepotism.

How many of you folks out there are retired military? Did you earn your retirement pay? And I'll bet after you retired from the military, you went to work in the private sector or for the Post Office. And retired from there, right? Did you earn your retirement? Sounds like "double-dipping" to me. Wait, and you what? You're now collecting Social Security? Wow! That's probably triple-dipping.

Mr. Germaine has earned any retirement benefits that he will receive from the Florida Retirement System. He worked for many years as a dedicated hired employee of the county. Now, he is going into an elected position and earning - just like you folks who had/have a second career - a salary. He'll earn every penny of it and more. The job of clerk is a huge one with responsibilities that the general public can't even envision.

Nepotism. Do you realize that Highlands is a small county? Government is the largest employer here offering halfway decent wages and benefits. There is unfortunately a comparatively small, qualified work force to choose from. (Nope, you can't blame it on a small gene pool.) I would guess that the greatest percentage of county and judicial employees is related to someone else in county or judicial. It's a fact of life.

Bob Germaine knows the responsibilities and routine of the clerk's job inside and out, upside down, backwards and in his sleep; he worked his way up from filing clerk. He is responsible, fiscally conscientious, management savvy, and knowledgeable. He knows every job in the county, civil and court system, what it entails, what it accomplishes, and how to do it. Why? He's done it. He can be the only sensible choice when you vote.

Judith Greenley
Sebring