BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Lisa Heeder’s decision to run for city clerk was simple: she wants to keep her job.
The position of city clerk has been vacant since the resignation of Jimmy Crosby in March 2024 and duties formally placed in the hands of the city’s manager on an interim basis. Most city commissioners favored removing the clerk as an elected official from the city’s charter, but that was a decision only voters could make, and they disagreed in an April referendum.
The position may have been vacant for more than a year, but the office was not. And while the manager signed official documents, it was Heeder single-handedly running the clerk’s office.
As administrative assistant for more than eight years, first in the city manager’s office, and since in the city clerk’s office, she knows the job.
“One of the most important roles of a city clerk is being a calming voice in adversity, displaying a caring and trustworthiness to the residents seeking help. I have maintained a true open-door policy for years, coming out to the lobby and speaking to customers to assure their experience was resolved,” she said.
With responsibility for finance no longer under the clerk’s umbrella, Heeder said the role includes working for the public and the city commission. She provides customer service, and access to public records. It is her role to record and archive those files. She attends meetings and documents them, keeping recordings and creating the minutes. Whether correspondence or contracts or any slip of paper pertinent to city business, the clerk’s office is responsible for maintaining the file and making them available in accordance with Florida’s public records law.
Unless a customer’s issue is related to utilities, Heeder tries to resolve things to the customer’s satisfaction. Business licensing in the city is also her responsibility.
“I’m very customer service minded. I believe that that’s incredibly important that we treat our citizens like they should be treated,” she said.
Heeder considers among her most important duties keeping commissioners informed and prepared for their role. That means providing background necessary about anything on the agenda. She assists them in other ways as well, such as making travel arrangements.
In other words, if voters elect her, she will continue doing the job she loves, maintaining the positive connections she has with commissioners and others in city hall.
“I’ve held multiple roles in the city that have required unique skill sets and a strong knowledge of city functions that I will carry over in the future. We have a solid team of employees that have maintained a positive and caring attitude. I continue to serve the citizens, no matter the need,” she said.
She described her relationship with the commissioners as excellent and included Commissioner-elect Dimple Overstreet in that group. She also included General Manager Drew Mullins and his assistant Kathy Bradley, saying she still performs much of the utility reporting that she began when working on that side of city hall. And she gave a nod to the finance department as well.
“Everybody, we have a really good relationship in city hall,” she said.
An elected office is inherently political, but Heeder said she is not one to pick sides. She is a listener who wants to take what everyone has to say into account.
Outside of her role at city hall, Heeder is an active member at First Baptist Church, performing administrative work and helping the ministry as a greeter, nursery care and outreach volunteer for events like vacation Bible school. She is also secretary for the Kiwanis Club of Starke, assisting with its community service endeavors, and volunteering at other community events, such as the Community Day held in Lawtey on Saturday.
Supervisor of Elections Amanda Seyfang is conducting the election, which will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at city hall. Early voting will take place Monday, Aug. 11, to Friday, Aug. 15, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily in the supervisor of elections office at the courthouse.
For information call the supervisor of elections office at 904-966-6266 or visit www.votebradfordfl.gov.
