Editor, Gazette-Journal: I am writing to express my support for Michele L. Beck for Circuit Court Clerk in the upcoming election. This position is one of the most vital roles in our local government. Unlike the clerks in General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, the Circuit Court Clerk is an elected constitutional officer who serves as the manager and official keeper of our county’s permanent records—everything from land documents, lawsuits, criminal cases, wills, appointments of fiduciaries, marriages, divorces, licenses for concealed handgun permits, election results and a multitude of miscellaneous court filings and legal matters. The Circuit Court Clerk performs over 800 complex and detailed responsibilities cited in the Code of Virginia. Additional duties which Michele manages include the financial management of millions of dollars of public funds such as preparation of state and local budgets, assessment and collection of fines and costs, maintaining trust...