Vince Dean
Age: 55
Occupation: State Representative, Retired Police Officer
Residence: East Ridge
Years lived in Hamilton County: 55
Family: Married, three children
Education: graduate of Baylor School, attended UTC & Cleveland State
Previous Public Office Experience: East Ridge City Council and Mayor, 1996-2006; Tennessee House of Representatives 2006-present
Church or Civic Involvement: Member of Abba’s House; Board of Directors Chattanooga Boys Choir; Harrison Ruritan Club; Former Board member for the Tennessee Municipal League
Achievements: Passed legislation this past session that will save taxpayers millions of dollars, mostly at the local level.
What is the biggest challenge facing the office you are seeking, and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge for the Office of Criminal Court Clerk is go after and collect the more than $50 Million in unpaid fines and fees currently owed to the court system.
Only in the last few months, was an outside agency called in to go after these fees. The conservative estimates of the amount owed, would meet this department’s budget needs for 25 years.
As keeper of the records, a reliable filing system should be put into place that will get the boxes of files out of the floor and onto to the shelves of the clerk’s office, making it more efficient and allowing easier access to the records of the court system. An updated system would also eliminate the three-month waiting period for parts to the current system, in the event of a breakdown.
To be a hands on administrator, offering sound leadership and guidance, when needed.
Why should voters choose you?
I have a proven track record of both balancing budgets and trimming them when necessary. As mayor of East Ridge, I helped balance a budget of $12 million a year by cutting when needed, without affecting the day-to-day operations. As chairman of the Tennessee House of Representatives Transportation Committee, I have had oversight of the $192 million Department of Safety budget and the $1.84 billion Department of Transportation budget.
Also, as a member of the legislature, I have worked on the annual $32 billion state budget.
Having worked 27 years in law enforcement, I understand the function of the Criminal Court Clerk’s office. As a legislator, I understand that duties of that office are dictated by state law, several of which, I helped write. State law also prohibits the Criminal Court Clerk from offering legal advice. The office is in more need of a good administrator than an attorney.