‘I’m honored’
DeSoto Chancery Clerk W. E. ‘Sluggo’ Davis says he’s pleased to be taking a new role as president of the Mississippi Chancery Clerks Association.
It’s another feather in his cap, which DeSoto Chancery Clerk W. E. “Sluggo” Davis readily adjusts to suit the needs of those he serves at the County Courthouse on the square in bustling Hernando.
“I’m honored,” said Davis, who adds he’s energized for action as the 2013-14 president of the Mississippi Chancery Clerks Association.
In his seventh fouryear term as the longestserving chancery clerk in DeSoto’s modern history, Davis, 65, was elected to the top post at the clerk association’s statewide conference in June in Tupelo. Doug Touchstone of Pike County was elected vice president and Arthur Johnston of Madison County was selected as secretary-treasurer.
Davis has moved up the ladder since his election as secretary-treasurer two years ago: “Sometimes our elections change that, and thank goodness it didn’t change for me.”
On the association are clerks from the state’s 82 far-flung counties.
“I’m going to try to get more input from the association’s committees and the board, to exchange more ideas,” he said. “I don’t believe they’ve reached their full potential.”
There are 10 state-recognized planning and development districts in Mississippi, said Davis, with one representative from each of the districts on the board. He, as president, and the vice president and secretary-treasurer make up the 13-member panel.
“I’d like to get the board more involved that it has; maybe break it down to a north and south regional approach, with five of those 10 at a regional session, to make it easier to get together and share ideas,” said Davis, an association member for a quarter-century. “I don’t want things to deteriorate under my leadership.”
The committees include those on bylaws, legislation and education. Davis is especially interested in fresh perspectives from the latter: “Our education committee works with both of the state’s major universities. From Mississippi State, there’s a programs for clerks on accounting and financial matters, and from the judicial college at Ole Miss, there’s programs on judicial issues.”
With 82 people involved in the association across the state, “we keep pretty well up to date on things affecting our offices.”
Innovation and use of business principles to steer his office have been Davis hallmarks.
He helped guide the office’s conversion to an electronic-based system “two or three years ago. It was a killer, but I’m glad we’re where we’re at now.” Davis supervises a staff of 13 people, plus two parttime employees.
“In 2004, we took in about 2,300 new cases, and since then the load has increased about 100 cases a year, and we had 2,700 new cases last year,” said Davis. “In a recession period, building permits may slow down, but hard times just makes our business grow.”
On his plate are divorce petitions, child- custody issues, land disputes, probate of wills and other civil matters in Chancery Court. He credits his staff for a smooth flow. Others laud Davis. “Sluggo is known all over Mississippi for running a businesslike operation,” said fellow clerk Johnston in a statement from the association. “I think he handles more work and more filings than just about anybody — and he does it at less cost to the taxpayers and with comparatively fewer people. Many of us try to emulate his processes.”
“Sluggo’s election is just another example of the leadership and influence DeSoto County has statewide,” said Chancery Judge Percy Lynchard, based in Hernando. “I know (Tax Collector) Joey Treadway, (Circuit) Judge Bobby Chamberlin and myself have served as officers in our respective state organizations and there were probably others. I think it is an honor to be selected and serve.”
“I’d say we’re in good hands,” said County Administrator Vanessa Lynchard, the Chancery judge’s spouse. “Sluggo runs an extremely economical office. The amounts he gives back to the county recently have been the highest of any county in the state. And he could spend all that, but he doesn’t, because he doesn’t have that mindset.”
On May 6, DeSoto Supervisors dealing with a lean fiscal 2013 budget were gladdened by a check from Davis for a morethan- expected $ 342,193, the revenue balance after subtracting for operations and his $90,000 salary. The figure was the state’s highest, as it has been for some years, but Davis was characteristically modest: “It’s not like it was in the good ol’ days before the recession, but it’s better than it was the past few years.”
Davis says he wouldn’t mind investing some future income in one more employee.
“I need another person in the court records area, like a dead man needs a coffin,” he said. “But I’m limited on desk space.” He’s following with interest a $14 million county facilities overhaul that includes getting the clerk’s office more space for records.
“The timeline puts it at 18 or 24 months, but I hope our expanded space is prior to that.”
But he knows he and his corps will handle things. He’s less than absolutely certain about seeking an eighth term in 2015, but says: “I’m not saying I’m not running. I heard I wasn’t running — but I didn’t say that.”