Bev Kennedy's Pledge To The People Of Broward County, Oct. 4, 2008

I, Beverly Kennedy, pledge to greatly improve the performance and customer focus of the Broward County Clerk of Court's management services and operations when elected as Broward County Clerk of Court, Nov. 4, 2008. The Clerk's services include the 17 th Circuit Court and Broward County Courts support, case maintenance, and management responsibility for files and evidence for all Judges, Attorneys, defendants, and plaintiffs. Data reporting and the public assistance in obtaining current and important information is part of the Clerk of Court's office duties; and collections & disbursement of court fines, fees and traffic tickets. We have verified that more than $350 Million dollars a year is collected by the Clerk of Court's office without any disclosure or oversight!. I will make transparent to the public how it spends its more than $48 Million dollar budget each year. I promise to ask for a forensic audit of the last 3-4 years to make public what has been kept from disclosure. The lack of fiduciary accountability and oversight under the authority of incumbent Clerk of Court Howard Forman's responsibility must be corrected as soon as possible!

I pledge that my plan as the new Broward Clerk of the Courts is on these reforms

#1. To be one of the best run Courthouses in the State of Florida instead of last place(67th) in the State, by retraining the 900 + employees to use the latest and best technology systems for better efficiency and service. Salaries and benefits which have been drastically cut the last two years will be improved greatly, thus raising morale and productivity of 82+ % of the Staff, who are totally dissatisfied and suffering under Howard Forman's lack of leadership and lack of reality.

#2. To shine light on the problems and come prepared with the solutions by exposing the lack of oversight and transparency of the Clerk of Court's budget, and make public the over 1 billion dollars not disclosed in any published report over the last three years. Hiring an outside forensic auditor and CPA firm to set up oversight and proper accounting systems will be my first financial priority.

#3. My immediate priority is to redo the employee handbook regulations that takes away any and all iob security which destroys the morale of the staff. Howard Forman's Employee Handbook takes away the Constitutional Rights of a democratic society's work environment, and does not enforce and protect U.S. Dept. of Labor Law mandates.

Beverly B. Kennedy Agenda as Clerk of Court

•Immediately upon taking office in January 2009, my agenda includes reform of the Clerk of Court's internet website through the use of innovative technology. Adding electronic filing for lawyers using all Court divisions within one year. My priority is to start first with the traffic ticket and fine division. Pro se litigant electronic filing is part of the two year plan. Many updating improvements will be implemented including automated customer systems as well as expanded e-systems to facilitate record sharing and collections with other county and state agencies.

•More resident and visitor services with valuable & useful information will be available online and in the lobbies of all Courthouses of Broward County.

*I have a Commitment from The Public Service Commission Govt. Director that they will set up direct communications in our courthouses to help resolve problems of Broward consumers concerning their utility and phone billing disputes.

*The Courthouse law library will be better utilized, and have additional services available for the sole-practitioner lawyers and residents defending themselves, pro se.

* New laws that are tremendously valuable to residents and potential buyers of Condominiums like Fl. State Statute # 995, effective Oct. I, 2008 will be available online and hard copies (covering the price of printing) in the lobbies of Courthouses, Chambers of Commerce, City Halls, and Senior Centers.

*Applications for Public Defender assistance, legal aid assistance or filing fee & copy fee assistance will be available on line or in hard copy conveniently in our lobbies. These improvements will help insure equal access for all!

I commit to implement a culture that supports total quality management by delivering greater efficiency and teamwork, and sharing resources thus saving tax payer dollar by cutting down wasteful duplication. The Clerk of the Courts' Office will provide optimum mutual benefits to the legal community, Judicial professionals, and the people of Broward County and South Florida by improving and sharing communications and supportive services whenever possible to the:

• Judges of the 17 Circuit and Broward County Courts. State Attorney's office and Public Defender's Office.
• Sheriffs Office and all Municipal law enforcement offices in our County and State. Lawyers, Law firms, and Pro se litigants (people representing themselves).
• The Disabled and seniors, who are summoned to any of the four (4) Courthouses, Also, victims of violent crime or threat, victims of child abuse and unpaid child support, and victims of domestic abuse, including the incapacitated and elderly suspected victims of physical, financial and fraud abuse.

I pledge to create and implement to the best of my ability, a new trend of fair, cost effective collection rate revenues, and quicker restitution collections by sharing information through internet communication systems. This will help victims of crime, children caught in a nightmare of unpaid child support, and the elderly victims of embezzlement and fraud schemes.

I vow to work very closely as a Council member of the Florida Clerk of Courts Operations Corporation (FLCCOC.org) to recover the at least $10 Million that was unfortunately returned to that Public Corporation located in Tallahassee, Florida by the incumbent, Howard Forman, instead of properly paying a reasonable salary, incentive pay and training for his employees. Howard Forman is presently Chairman of that Public Corporation! Last year, he was Vice Chairman!

I pledge to protect the rights and safety of all people, including employees, staff, Judges, Bailiffs, and Jurors who enter the halls of the Broward courthouses.

The delivery of courteous, professional, high quality services regardless of political affiliation, registered or not, citizen or not; employee or not will be our mission in the Clerk of Court's responsibility. "Everyone, regardless of diversity, religious belief, or language will be treated with respect and their safety assured and their Democratic rights protected"

I, Beverly B. Kennedy, a resident of Broward County for almost 32 years and with no party affiliation, pledge the first 5 years, starting Jan. 2009 is time enough to achieve these pledges. I solemnly swear to serve as Clerk of the Courts for no more than 2 terms if elected on Nov. 4, 2008. I promise integrity and honor will be restored to the Courthouses of Broward County so help me GOD!

Beverly B. Kennedy,October 4th, 2008