W. Stanley James III

Campaigning for Clerk of Lancaster County Circuit Court, W. Stanley James III of Weems said he will offer a fresh approach to administering the office based on many years of experience in management and serving the public.

Of the three candidates for the post, James said he has the most office management experience.The office is one "I am well qualified to pursue," he said."I have extensive experience managing office personnel and serving the public."

He said he would bring new ideas and "new blood" to an agency that has traditionally promoted from within.

Among his priorities, James said he intends to make things run better and more smoothly and efficiently utilizing the current staff, if they choose to stay on board.

He also noted a need for more long-range planning.As an example, he said it is not enough to be current on existing computer technology; it's important to plan for how the office will keep abreast as new technology develops, to be prepared to address future needs.

In working with the courts, county and community, he said his goal is to develop a master plan that anticipates long- and short-term needs.

A native of the county and a 1968 graduate of Lancaster High School, James attended Chowan College, Virginia Tech and Old Dominion University, where he majored in business and economics.

He has managed a variety of offices and retail operations, most recently the Kilmarnock office of Revere Gas and Appliance.

Earlier, he owned and operated Ben Franklin Crafts and Frames of Kilmarnock for 18 years, before closing the store in 1998.

He has also managed F.W. Woolworth Co. stores in Baltimore, Fredericksburg and Manassas, and credit offices for W.T. Grant Co. in Williamsburg, Glen Burnie and Baltimore.At W.T. Grant Co., he advanced to district credit center manager, where he was in charge of a staff of 30 for credit sales and collections throughout Maryland.

The nature of public service is different from private and government sectors, he said, but the public could benefit from an office that in some respects is operated more like retail operations and business offices.

In the private sector, the overwhelming attitude is that the customer is right and everything possible will be done to make things right; in the public sector, it's often 'sorry, that's the way it is, too bad,' he said.

His goal is to incorporate some of the positive approaches found in the private sector, especially in the area of problem solving, he said.

If there's a problem, the agency should make sure that resolutions are reached to the best of the customer's satisfaction as possible, he said, and should be responsible for following up on specific incidents or problems.

He also brings a keen awareness from the private sector that it's the taxpayer who's paying the salary, he said.

As an outsider, he said he would not be predisposed on how things are done, but instead would look at everything objectively and not in the context of how it's always been.

"I have a track record that supports my ability to protect any cash or property assets of the office," said James."I also have the ability to get people to work together without a lot of bickering and resentment."

He said he would be willing to explore all avenues that might improve public service, even expanding to include evening or Saturday hours, and to look at how best to schedule employees to best meet the needs of the public within the constraints of the current budget.With a retail business background he said he's used to long hours, including weekends and holidays.

"I'll be totally accessible to the public, not only in the office but outside the courthouse as well," said James, indicating his home phone number would be public."I'll be available at any time to answer questions or address any problem."

James noted a history of stability in both his professional and his personal life.Married to his wife, Gwen, for 28 years, their daughter, Catherine, is a sophomore at Lancaster High and their son, Joshua, is an honor student at Virginia Tech.

James serves on the vestry of Trinity Episcopal Church.He is the current chairman of the Rappahannock Community College board of directors; a past president of the Lancaster Community Library and former member of the Bank of Lancaster advisory board.

He sees the position as a non-political office and is not seeking an endorsement from any political party, he said.

"I'd like to thank the people I've met so far during my campaign," said James."I appreciate the enthusiasm and the concerns expressed by the folks that I have met and I'm looking forward to meeting and sharing with many more."

To discuss his candidacy, share concerns or help with his campaign, James can be reached at 438-6930.

Campaigning for Clerk of Lancaster County Circuit Court, W. Stanley James III of Weems said he will offer a fresh approach to administering the office based on many years of experience in management and serving the public.

Of the three candidates for the post, James said he has the most office management experience.The office is one "I am well qualified to pursue," he said."I have extensive experience managing office personnel and serving the public."

He said he would bring new ideas and "new blood" to an agency that has traditionally promoted from within.

Among his priorities, James said he intends to make things run better and more smoothly and efficiently utilizing the current staff, if they choose to stay on board.

He also noted a need for more long-range planning.As an example, he said it is not enough to be current on existing computer technology; it's important to plan for how the office will keep abreast as new technology develops, to be prepared to address future needs.

In working with the courts, county and community, he said his goal is to develop a master plan that anticipates long- and short-term needs.

A native of the county and a 1968 graduate of Lancaster High School, James attended Chowan College, Virginia Tech and Old Dominion University, where he majored in business and economics.

He has managed a variety of offices and retail operations, most recently the Kilmarnock office of Revere Gas and Appliance.

Earlier, he owned and operated Ben Franklin Crafts and Frames of Kilmarnock for 18 years, before closing the store in 1998.

He has also managed F.W. Woolworth Co. stores in Baltimore, Fredericksburg and Manassas, and credit offices for W.T. Grant Co. in Williamsburg, Glen Burnie and Baltimore.At W.T. Grant Co., he advanced to district credit center manager, where he was in charge of a staff of 30 for credit sales and collections throughout Maryland.

The nature of public service is different from private and government sectors, he said, but the public could benefit from an office that in some respects is operated more like retail operations and business offices.

In the private sector, the overwhelming attitude is that the customer is right and everything possible will be done to make things right; in the public sector, it's often 'sorry, that's the way it is, too bad,' he said.

His goal is to incorporate some of the positive approaches found in the private sector, especially in the area of problem solving, he said.

If there's a problem, the agency should make sure that resolutions are reached to the best of the customer's satisfaction as possible, he said, and should be responsible for following up on specific incidents or problems.

He also brings a keen awareness from the private sector that it's the taxpayer who's paying the salary, he said.

As an outsider, he said he would not be predisposed on how things are done, but instead would look at everything objectively and not in the context of how it's always been.

"I have a track record that supports my ability to protect any cash or property assets of the office," said James."I also have the ability to get people to work together without a lot of bickering and resentment."

He said he would be willing to explore all avenues that might improve public service, even expanding to include evening or Saturday hours, and to look at how best to schedule employees to best meet the needs of the public within the constraints of the current budget.With a retail business background he said he's used to long hours, including weekends and holidays.

"I'll be totally accessible to the public, not only in the office but outside the courthouse as well," said James, indicating his home phone number would be public."I'll be available at any time to answer questions or address any problem."

James noted a history of stability in both his professional and his personal life.Married to his wife, Gwen, for 28 years, their daughter, Catherine, is a sophomore at Lancaster High and their son, Joshua, is an honor student at Virginia Tech.

James serves on the vestry of Trinity Episcopal Church.He is the current chairman of the Rappahannock Community College board of directors; a past president of the Lancaster Community Library and former member of the Bank of Lancaster advisory board.

He sees the position as a non-political office and is not seeking an endorsement from any political party, he said.

"I'd like to thank the people I've met so far during my campaign," said James."I appreciate the enthusiasm and the concerns expressed by the folks that I have met and I'm looking forward to meeting and sharing with many more."

To discuss his candidacy, share concerns or help with his campaign, James can be reached at 438-6930.

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"It's good to see students who have vision and confidence in RCC," concluded RCC College Board chairman Stanley James, as DuBois moved on to meet with key members of RCC's administrative staff.

"It's good to see students who have vision and confidence in RCC," concluded RCC College Board chairman Stanley James, as DuBois moved on to meet with key members of RCC's administrative staff.