Warren county circuit court clerk candidate roundup

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – 2024 is heating up as races across the U.S. and the Commonwealth begin to look toward their primaries and deadlines.

For circuit court clerk in Warren County, the race now sees four individuals, all vying for the position. Currently, Brandi Duvall (R), the incumbent clerk, is being challenged by Gordon Turner (R) a detective with the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Sonya Kilgo Corder (D), a former employee of the clerk’s office who held multiple positions in the office who now works at SKyCTC and Bonnie Williams (R), grand jury coordinator at the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Today we spoke with Duvall and Turner.

Duvall has been working in the Circuit Court Office since 2007 and sees herself as a stable option that has been brought up so to speak in the administrative, paper work heavy organizational aspects of the office.

“I’ve been here for 17 years. I love our local court system. I love the work that I do in the court system as well as in this community. And it’s been an honor and a privilege to serve as the elected clerk for the last 12 years. And hopefully I’m fortunate enough to be reelected to serve a third term,” Duvall said.

For Turner, who had a career in law enforcement with the Bowling Green Police Department and now works as a detective for the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, he believes his connections to the people and some new ideas may make the office itself have a low rate of employee turnover.

“Working at the Commonwealth Attorney’s office for the last 12 years as a detective, I’ve worked first hand with the clerk’s office and have been in the justice Center and work with the prosecutors and defense attorneys. And I just think there’s time for change. I see some things that I can improve on, and I just think it’s time for a change,” Turner said.

Both candidates mentioned the turnover in the office as a major issue that they are both seeking to resolve.

For incumbent Duvall, she believes that work during the last fiscal year was enough to greatly mitigate the turnover.

“So the employee retention matters mostly have to do with the salary scale for the judicial branch. That was in 2022. Luckily, in 2023 my staff receive raises. Everyone is fairly compensated and we have seen the turnover rate decrease since those races have gone through,” Duvall said.

Turner still thinks that there is more that can be done in order to keep the office from experiencing more brain drain.

“One of my primary things I would work on is employee retention. I want a place where people love to come to work, and the more you can retain people, the more knowledge that you will always keep within the office that helps serve the citizens of Warren County,” Turner said.

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