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Clerk of court says 32 years will be enough

Jed Pittman, first elected clerk in 1976, says he won't seek re-election to an eighth consecutive term. "In two years, I'm leaving," he says.

By JAMAL THALJI
Published July 22, 2006

NEW PORT RICHEY - Jed Pittman is Pasco County's longest-serving constitutional officer. He was elected clerk of the circuit court in 1976. He has won re-election seven times. He's been in office for almost 30 years.

Pittman figures 32 will be enough.

The 64-year-old overseer of public records said he will not seek re-election to an eighth consecutive term when his current term expires in 2008.

"In two years, I'm leaving," he told the St. Petersburg Times on Wednesday. "That's it."

Pittman served the community in many roles - police officer, investigator and sheriff's detective - before winning his first election in 1976.

Getting votes hasn't been a problem for Pittman since then. The Republican defeated Democratic challenger Robert Altman in 2004 by an almost 2-to-1 ratio to win his current four-year term.

"I like what I've done, and I like the clerk's office," Pittman said. "I think it's done a lot for the people."

In making his decision Pittman cited his many years in office, health concerns such as knee problems, and frustrations with the constantly changing nature of public records law. He mentioned the list of exemptions the Legislature adds every year to public records law, changes with which his office must comply.

"Look at all the stuff we're charged with," he said.

Harold Sample, city manager of Dade City, served two stints as Pittman's executive assistant. He said his old boss led the agency through a busy era.

"Obviously, he has led the office during just an absolutely huge amount of change from 1977 to now," Sample said.

Pittman has overseen some technological changes at the clerk's office. A Web-based system lets subscribers view civil court dockets and official records. Traffic tickets can now be paid online, too.

But while many counties have placed their criminal records online, Pasco still hasn't. Pittman said Wednesday that getting those records onto the Web is proving difficult. He could not provide a time line for when it will happen.

"It's hard after a while," he said. "You do a lot of things you're happy about, and there's a lot of things you don't get to accomplish."

The only current elected official to serve more years in public office is tax collector Mike Olson, who was elected to the County Commission in 1974 and then to his current job in 1980.

The clerk's office is responsible for keeping records such as county and circuit court files, officially recorded documents and the minutes of County Commission meetings. Pittman's salary is $131,063.

Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.

[Last modified July 21, 2006, 22:04:06]