Voters to choose first new county clerk in 30 years

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998 | 12:04 p.m.

For the first time in three decades, Clark County will have a new county clerk.

Democrat Shirley Parraguire and Republican Sam Bledsoe both scored narrow victories over their opponents in the September primary election. Now the two will go after each other for the position that pays $72,000 a year.

Parraguirre, 58, has been an executive assistant to District Court Judge Sally Loehrer since 1993. Prior to that, she was a secretary for Judge Thomas Foley.

The California native said what makes her qualified for county clerk is her 22 years of experience working for private attorneys and judges. She said one thing she would like to do is let the public know exactly what the office does.

She said she would like to make the clerk's office more efficient by placing more staff members in the file room and upgrading the computer system to better serve the district courts.

Parraguirre said she has a step up on her opponent because she is well rehearsed in all statutes, rules and procedures.

Parraguirre is past president of the Las Vegas Legal Secretaries Association and the Nevada Association of Legal Secretaries. She is the director of the National Association of Legal Secretaries.

Bledsoe, 47, is the director of Desert Springs Ministries. The Republican wants to improve customer service and satisfaction and upgrade technology to accommodate growth.

Bledsoe said the public doesn't use the office directly, but there is a need to keep judges happy. He said former County Clerk Loretta Bowman hasn't been as aggressive about ordering supplies and updating computers as he would be.

He said, for example, that Internet access would make life easier for attorneys and he feels he could have the department online within a year.

"I'm a technology-type person," he said.

Bledsoe feels he has a stronger management background than Parraguirre, which would help him be more successful in the office.

The county clerk's office handles records for district court, family court and the County Commission. It also issues marriage licenses, performs marriage ceremonies and handles passport applications.