Race for Clark County clerk becomes debate over court tech

The race for Clark County clerk has turned into a debate over taxpayer-funded court technology, office accessibility and how much help residents should receive when navigating legal filings on their own. Incumbent Scott Weber, 54, has held the nonpartisan position for 16 years. He points to his administrative record and digital modernization efforts as evidence of a stable office. Challenger Rachel Shapiro, 63, a mediator, argues that the office wastes public dollars on redundant computer programs while leaving self-represented litigants without basic guidance. Weber received 53 percent of the vote to Shapiro’s 29 percent in August’s three-way primary race to earn their spots on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. The county clerk serves as the administrative backbone of Clark County Superior Court, processing roughly 425,000 documents annually while managing about 150 walk-in visitors a day across counter stations. “It’s kind of like being a librarian but on steroids,” Weber said of maintaining 11.5 million records. “You have to meet the needs and expectations of the partners: the sheriff’s office, the prosecutor and the bench.” Part of Shapiro’s platform includes eliminating OnBase, a document-management system championed by Weber that cost $180,308 in Superior Court licensing this year, she said. Shapiro argues that the county should rely entirely on Odyssey, a statewide court management system provided at no local cost by the Washington Administrative Office of the Courts. Maintaining separate software creates unnecessary expense, requires duplicate employee training and causes technical friction when moving records between systems, Shapiro said. She noted that presiding Superior Court Judge Derek Vanderwood previously raised questions before the Clark County Council about running two overlapping platforms. Weber defended OnBase and said outside user subscription fees help offset costs and fund system access for judges. He added that state-supported Odyssey contains operational deficiencies, noting that Snohomish is the only county larger than Clark relying on Odyssey to that extent. “Having real-time information has improved people calling up and looking for a document,” Weber said. “When I first got there, it was two or three days before a document was viewable. It really skewed people’s trust in the system.” The candidates also split over customer service for pro se filers. Shapiro proposed introducing basic procedural assistance and limited-representation services, such as a “lawyer of the day” member of public defense, to assist litigants before they submit paperwork. “If the courts provided basic procedural advice, it would save the courts a lot of time and money without giving out legal advice,” Shapiro said. “With me, it’s personal, because I was one of those litigants. I’ve had to navigate the legal system on my own, and I know what it feels like to feel alone. That’s why I’m (expletive) off at this courthouse, because this is ridiculous. It’s a mess.” Weber countered that clerks are statutorily barred from offering legal advice and that the office already collaborates with external legal aid groups to assist the public within strict budget constraints. The race also has grown personal. Shapiro accused Weber of being an absentee manager, alleging that staff refer to him as “The Ghost.” She said it comes down to how the courthouse is run and that Weber has not been doing so efficiently. Weber rejected that claim. He said court administration is a separate entity and that he maintains a work log and is present daily. He pointed to his 16 years of experience, engineering background and 2018 Washington State Clerk of the Year award as proof of steady operational leadership. He said that over the years, he has come to appreciate and respect the clerk’s role in the court, which he calls an essential service. “Do I think the system can be improved? Absolutely,” Weber said. “But I’m proud of my past work and what we have done.”

Related Stories