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Court Clerk Seeks Re-Election

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By MIKE SALINERO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2008

TAMPA - Pat Frank, a 26-year political veteran, said Wednesday that she will seek re-election as Hillsborough County clerk of the circuit court.

Frank, 78, said she still finds the job challenging and interesting and wants to oversee an ongoing overhaul of the court system's computer network.

"We're deep into that task, and it's going to take several years before we finalize the court system," she said. "That's extremely important for me. It's going to be easier for judges, for attorneys; it's going to be more efficient and user-friendly."

Other changes coming up are the reopening of the old county courthouse, which has been remodeled, and the opening of a new service center in Brandon.

Frank ran for the clerk office in 2004 after six years on the Hillsborough County Commission. She spent a decade as a state senator, two years in the Florida House and began her career on the Hillsborough County School Board.

Married to a judge, Frank was the first woman admitted to Georgetown University School of Law, in 1951, although she never obtained a law degree.

The clerk of the circuit court is both clerk of the courts and comptroller for the county. Her duties include serving as custodian of all court records, processing civil and criminal court cases, including traffic, conducting mortgage foreclosures and tax lien sales and assisting victims of abuse through the domestic violence program.

As chief financial officer for the county, the clerk is responsible for safekeeping and investing more than $1.8 billion in annual county collections. She also is independent auditor of all county departments.

Frank broke three bones in her back in a fall in October but says she has fully recovered. She currently has no challengers.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.

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