Get to know Cabarrus County Clerk of Superior Court Republican Candidate Ben Cox
The longtime Cabarrus attorney says his legal background and courthouse experience position him to bring new leadership and direction to the Clerk’s Office.
Ben Cox is one of three Republicans running in the primary for Cabarrus County Clerk of Superior Court. Here are his answers to questions from The Cabarrus Compass.
1. Please tell us about your background, professional experience, and connection to Cabarrus County. How long have you lived or worked in the county?
I have lived in Cabarrus County for 30 years. I have been married for 23 years, and we have one daughter who is currently a senior at the University of Mississippi. I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Montreat College and after working with Duke Power for 17 years, holding several leadership roles while there, I left to attend law school at Campbell University.
I went straight into my own practice in 2001 and have been licensed in South Carolina since 2005. I only practice in Cabarrus County and have handled matters in multiple areas of law during my 24 years in practice.
I am a former Adjunct Professor of business law, vice president of a 501(c)(3) promoting literacy, former Board Member of the Cabarrus County Teen Court and Mediation Board and former Teen Court Judge volunteer.
2. What motivated you to run for Clerk of Superior Court, and what do you see as the office’s most important responsibilities?
What motivated me to run for Clerk is the need for change in both leadership and direction. I had quite a few people encouraging me to run. These factors along with my own experiences with the Clerk’s office is what motivated me to run.
I think the most significant role of the Clerk is to serve as custodian of court records. However, there are so many critical functions of the office, such as probate/estate administration, clerical functions, receiving and disbursing millions of dollars and the management and supervision of employees in multiple divisions within the office that it is difficult to pinpoint one as being the most critical.
3. The Clerk of Superior Court role is both administrative and judicial. What skills or experiences best prepare you to manage court operations while also carrying out the office’s legal and quasi-judicial duties?
I am the only attorney in the race for Clerk and have spent 24 years in private practice. I also served in leadership throughout my career with Duke Power, run my own business, am Vice President of a nonprofit, former adjunct professor and Board member.
I feel it is of great benefit to the citizens of Cabarrus County, employees within the office and all stakeholders who depend upon the efficient operation of the office to have an attorney as Clerk. My daily presence in court and the courthouse provides me an insider’s perspective as to what change is needed and, as a resident, the changes needed that everyone should expect and deserves.
4. Court offices often face challenges with staffing, workload, and technology. What improvements or efficiencies would you prioritize to ensure the Clerk’s Office operates effectively?
My first priority is to ensure that the right people are in the right positions. I will meet with each employee individually to understand what I can provide them to assist in performing their roles more efficiently and communicate to them what I need to serve in my position more effectively.
Morale needs improvement. Team members need to be instilled with the understanding that the entire office is working toward a shared goal and that the goal can only be realized through the collaborative effort of all those involved. The best way to do that is through true leadership and leadership by example.
Next, I intend to meet with representatives from all stakeholder categories to see how the office can better serve them in their roles. Among them are judges, attorneys, District Attorney, law enforcement, bondsmen, governmental agencies and most of all, members of the public.
Along with the growth that will come to Cabarrus County will be more pressure placed on the court system. Although there have been recent technologies, there will no doubt be a need for new technology. Rapid advances in the technology arena requires someone who understands it and knows how to use it.
I am talking about more than the ability to enter data more quickly but rather understanding and recognizing the needs with respect to technology, finding the technology that will fulfill that need and leading implementation and training.
5. Access to the court system is often confusing or intimidating for residents. What steps would you take to ensure the Clerk’s Office is accessible, efficient, and responsive to the public?
I think the role of the Clerk’s office in providing assistance to residents begins well before they enter the courthouse. Social media, internet and technology can play a role, not only in what to expect when accessing court services, but also by assisting with accessibility, efficiency and guidance in addressing residents’ needs.
To be of assistance, the Clerk must be physically present and available to residents if they should have concerns. As for efficiency, that relates to the priorities stated earlier regarding making sure the right people are in the right positions. The Clerk must lead by example. Being available and transparent is a part of that. It is a position of service.
6. Ethics, impartiality, and public trust are critical for this position. How would you ensure decisions made by the Clerk’s Office remain fair, transparent, and free from political influence?
I begin almost each talk I do by telling people that I am not a politician. For me, this is a job interview. The job of Clerk requires the application of the law to what are often times complex legal issues in order to produce a just and equitable outcome. As the only attorney in the race I am held to a higher ethical standard by way of the North and South Carolina State Bars. That is how it should be.
In my 24 years in private practice and handling over 40,000 cases I have never had a complaint filed against me. I am not running to be the puppet of any person or party or to promote anyone’s agenda. I am also the only candidate in the race that is self-funding their campaign.
Whether reality or not, the gifting of money to a candidate many times is accompanied by an expectation. That expectation may be a favor, serving as a minion to further a person’s or organization’s agenda or whatever else it might be.
Self-funding my campaign avoids even the appearance of any impropriety. I intend to lead rather than follow. My focus is on the residents of Cabarrus County regardless of who they are, what their party affiliation is or any other factor one may consider.
7. The Clerk’s Office interacts with judges, attorneys, law enforcement, and various state and county agencies. How would you approach collaboration with these stakeholders to ensure smooth court operations and positive outcomes for the public?
As stated above, I intend to meet with representatives of all the stakeholders to see what the Clerk’s office can do to assist them in their positions. I would also communicate to them any needs that may assist the Clerk’s office.
In the end, everyone’s goal is the same. That is the smooth, efficient, transparent and ethical operation of the court system. During my 24 years in practice as an attorney, I have developed relationships with many of the stakeholders in the process.
8. For newcomers: What steps would you take during your first year to learn the role quickly and ensure continuity and stability within the Clerk of Superior Court’s Office?
First, I do not intend to take a year to learn the role or to ensure continuity and stability. That is too long. As I stated earlier, for me this is a job interview. If you are hiring someone to do a job, which is exactly what the residents of Cabarrus County are doing, you examine the qualifications of the applicants and pick the most qualified candidate.
The Clerk of Court position is not a place to learn a new skill. I intend to work hard and spend the time to accomplish many things that need to be addressed in a much more compressed time period. Once again, ensuring the right people are where they need to be and meeting with all stakeholders is the first step.
Having a licensed attorney in the position shortens any transitional period and provides an avenue for expansion of the role of the office. My daily presence in court and the courthouse provides me the insight from both an insider’s perspective and that of a resident as to the changes needed and the experience to produce an outcome that everyone should expect and deserve.