Gail Mooney, chief deputy clerk and bookkeeper at Circuit Court, visited with Grace Media Group for a question & answer session to discuss her candidacy for Circuit Court/General Sessions Court Clerk.

Question: First, a little background information. Where are you originally from, family and education?

Answer: I was born and raised in Tiptonville, Tennessee – my entire family is from Lake County.
Most of them still live there, but I moved to Jackson after high school to go to West Tennessee Business College in 1977, where I met my husband, Bill. Bill was born and raised in Jackson – the Mooneys and Hanafees are old Jackson families.

I still live in the family house they purchased in 1920 – Jackson is home.

Question: You have worked 29 years for the office of Circuit Court/General Sessions Court Clerk.

What are some of the reasons you decided this was the career path you decided to take, and would you discuss the position(s) you have held?

Answer: I’ve worked every position from front desk to my current position, Chief Deputy and Bookkeeper.

I worked my way up and had to keep up with all the administrative changes along the way. When I started I needed a stable career and I felt like a local government position offered that stability.

Bill was always buying businesses and running businesses, but that’s a big risk. When I started, it was a way to balance out that risk. It turned into a lifelong career and with everyone I work with I feel like I’ve got a whole new family.

Question: Kathy Blount, Clerk of the Court, decided to retire and you decided to run for the office of General Sessions Court Clerk. What makes the position desirable?

Answer: First and foremost, I wouldn’t run for this position without the backing of the folks I work with. I’ve worked closely with Kathy Blount while she was Court Clerk. I’ve worked closely with all the clerks who’ve held that position – Jo Jo Gaffney and Judy Barnhill and then Kathy Blount.

The most important thing about this role is keeping the office running smoothly. We’ve benefitted from working so closely together over the years – we’re very efficient, detail oriented, and above all we stay up to date.

As laws change, as we adopt new technologies, we don’t miss a beat. What makes the job desirable is the opportunity to build on everything I’ve learned over the years.

Question: How is the campaign going, and how important is the endorsement you received from Kathy Blount?

Answer: The campaign is going great, I think. Just a couple weekends ago we cooked up and sold around 35 Boston butts to raise money for the campaign – sold out of them.

All our fundraisers have been successful and I’m incredibly grateful for all the support from the community.

Kathy Blount’s endorsement has helped in major ways – I think it means alot to voters when an incumbent introduces a candidate who will serve the position the way they expect as voters.

You know its like saying – You trusted me with this position, and I trust Gail Mooney with this position.

Question: If elected, do you anticipate any major changes in the office?

Answer: In 29 years, there have been alot of changes to the Tennessee court system. We’ve moved to specialized software, our office has had to grow, and continuing education is just a standard of practice.

That’s how things change – but the courts in general do not change.

Everyone knows the role of the Judges and the Lawyers in a courtroom, but the clerk’s office is responsible for everything else.

Dockets, summonses, swearing in juries, those tasks don’t change but they do have to be done competently and efficiently.

I can’t predict what laws may change, what technologies may develop to help the courts run smoothly, but I know that I’ll have to determine whether or not they’ll be effective for our courts. You have to have experience to know what can improve.

It’s important to remember change is valuable when it improves outcomes, and that takes a lot of deliberation.

(PHOTO: Gail Mooney, right, with Kathy Blount)