Our Campaign
March 6th, 2006The office of the Clerk of Criminal District Court is a very important office with regard to the function of our criminal justice system and in holding our elections. The lives of thousands of New Orleanians are effected by the operation of the Criminal District Court and the evidence and records that are in the custody of and responsibility of the Clerk’s office.
Each and every election in Orleans Parish is conducted by the Clerk’s office, be it the hiring and training of election comissioners, the moving and custody of voting machines, and the proper tabulation of votes after the election is over.
The failings of the incumbent Clerk of Court, Kimberly Williamson Butler, are well noted and never seem to avoid the headlines. It is time that we as a community should expect a better performance from whoever holds this office.
Nick Varrecchio is the reform candidate for this well-publicized, dysfunctional office. He understands that the viability of a safe, economically vibrant New Orleans is dependent upon the smooth and competent functioning of its courts system and the preservation of every citizen’s voting rights. Of the many candidates seeking to succeed the incumbent Clerk of Court, Nick Varrecchio has the carreer experience working with and a practical knowledge of this important elected office that makes him the most qualified candidate for this position. At 45 years of age, he has spent almost half of his life working in the criminal justice system and in building a very successful legal career. He has worked as Sheriff’s Deputy and Bailiff, as a law clerk for Judge Israel Augustine, and in assisting with the prosecution of serious criminal cases with the District Attorney’s Office. He has worked for years on an almost daily basis with the office and employees of the Clerk of Criminal District Court, and fully understands the needs and operation of that office.
This office has received extensive and well-documented negative publicity for its lack of performance under the incumbent, Kimberly Williamson Butler. Varrecchio is entering the race because he believes that it is critical to rebuild confidence, organization, and function in this important office. Moreover, he believes that he has the vision, the experience, the organizational skills, and the leadership capabilities to correct these problems.
Additionally, it is worth noting that no one under the age of 50 in our city has more experience in election law and Voting Rights litigation than Nick Varrecchio. While other candidates for this office have either encouraged a further delay of the 2006 city elections, or did nothing to help to make these elections occur, Nick Varrecchio personally became involved and on a variety of levels assisted in making the April 22, 2006 elections a reality, and in avoiding a further delay of the 2006 elections.
Nick Varrecchio’s recent efforts have included offering important legal advice to our City Council and other officials regarding compliance with the Voting Rights Act and other Federal regulations, in personally leading the effort with the French Quarter Town Hall to recruit hundreds of new commissioners for the 2006 election, and in working to have the Department of Justice and concerned local groups to have relocated polling places moved to the most sensible and accessible locations in order to ensure maximum voter participation.
These efforts and concerns are ongoing, and there will always be a need for a committed, concerned and competent Clerk of Court to supervise our Orleans Parish elections. If elected, Nick Varrecchio will bring his proven wealth of interest, concern, expertise and commitment to this very important position as our next of Clerk of Court.
