Amy S. Pierce of Gloucester, has announced her candidacy for clerk of Gloucester Circuit Court. She currently serves as the clerk for Mathews and Middlesex General District Courts. Pierce said she is seeking the Republican nomination for the Gloucester office.

Pierce has over 30 years of experience working in offices supporting attorneys, law enforcement and courts. A graduate of West Point High School, she first worked for the King and Queen Commonwealth’s Attorney in 1989 before going to work for the Virginia State Police in the VSP West Point office.

Pierce joined the staff of the Gloucester General District Court Clerk’s office in 1995 then worked for the King and Queen County Administrator for two years. She then rejoined the staff of the Gloucester General District Court in 1998 and was elevated to clerk of that court in 2007.

Last year, Pierce successfully sought the job of clerk to both the Mathews and Middlesex General District Courts. Although general district court sessions are held in Mathews, that court’s paperwork and its official clerk’s office have been in Saluda at the Middlesex Courthouse.

“I wanted the challenge of two courts, and I have helped to get a full-time general district court office in Mathews. I am still in the process, but a Mathews General District Court Clerk’s Office is expected to open in the county on July 1,” she said.

Pierce said she had always thought she would seek the Gloucester Circuit Court Clerk’s job when former clerk Margaret Walker retired. Walker’s last term was slated to expire in January 2024, but she announced her retirement in December 2020.

Cathy Dale, who had been serving as Chief Deputy Clerk in the office since 2008, was sworn in late last year to serve as interim clerk. At that time, Dale declared her intent to run in November in the special election for the remainder of Walker’s term.

“That happened sooner than I thought,” Pierce said, but friends and acquaintances urged her to seek the position. “I have a lot of great ideas to bring to the Gloucester Circuit Court office with my primary focus being on customer service. The number-one priority is to make sure that all Gloucester citizens are served.”