WORCESTER COUNTY–After 28 years of being an elected public official serving the citizens of Worcester County, Clerk of Court Steve Hales is retiring instead of running for re-election this year.
“It’s the hardest decision I ever made in my life,” Hales said last Friday. “I fell in love with the office and the people we serve. I love this job.”
After his successor takes office, Hales plans to spend time traveling with his wife, Ann, on his motorcycle and with his grandchildren. He would like to find part-time work to keep active and he doesn’t rule out future political service.
“I might consider alternate political office later,” Hales said.
A state office could be among the possibilities, he said.
Hales will miss the public he has served for so long and appreciates the opportunities he had to provide assistance.
“I love this office with all my heart and soul,” he said. “I’m grateful to have been part of a system that provides service to citizens.”
The court clerk and the office’s staff handle a myriad of responsibilities.
“Any origins of court cases in Worcester County are initiated at the clerk’s office,” Hales said. “And we are keepers of the record. That’s one of our primary functions.”
The clerk of court is part of the state’s judiciary, but elected locally. Each of the state’s 23 counties and the City of Baltimore have clerks of court.
Since he took office as clerk of court, the biggest change has been in automation and Hales was not only a strong proponent, but a leader.
“We were the first county in the state to automate land records,” Hales said. “Public records should be made available through any automatic process to accommodate the public’s need,” he said.
The clerk’s office handles business records, recording approximately 3,000 licenses, including new licenses and renewals, each year.
The office also issues marriage licenses and presides over civil ceremonies.
In addition to his public service at the courthouse in Snow Hill, Hales, a West Ocean City resident, served the public as a firefighter. After 35 years, he is a Gold Badge member of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company and was president three times, for a total of six years.
Hales also served at the state level and was chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Maryland State Firemen’s Association for nine years. Traveling statewide, he administered the death and disability program for volunteer firefighters.
Hales served 12 years as register of wills and has been clerk of Circuit Court for 16 years. He was president of the Maryland Register of Wills Association and the Maryland Circuit Court Clerks Association.
He also worked on long-term planning and policy decisions while on the Maryland Judicial Council for Judge Robert Bell, chief judge of the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, in 2004 and 2005.
“It’s the hardest decision I ever made in my life,” Hales said last Friday. “I fell in love with the office and the people we serve. I love this job.”
After his successor takes office, Hales plans to spend time traveling with his wife, Ann, on his motorcycle and with his grandchildren. He would like to find part-time work to keep active and he doesn’t rule out future political service.
“I might consider alternate political office later,” Hales said.
A state office could be among the possibilities, he said.
Hales will miss the public he has served for so long and appreciates the opportunities he had to provide assistance.
“I love this office with all my heart and soul,” he said. “I’m grateful to have been part of a system that provides service to citizens.”
The court clerk and the office’s staff handle a myriad of responsibilities.
“Any origins of court cases in Worcester County are initiated at the clerk’s office,” Hales said. “And we are keepers of the record. That’s one of our primary functions.”
The clerk of court is part of the state’s judiciary, but elected locally. Each of the state’s 23 counties and the City of Baltimore have clerks of court.
Since he took office as clerk of court, the biggest change has been in automation and Hales was not only a strong proponent, but a leader.
“We were the first county in the state to automate land records,” Hales said. “Public records should be made available through any automatic process to accommodate the public’s need,” he said.
The clerk’s office handles business records, recording approximately 3,000 licenses, including new licenses and renewals, each year.
The office also issues marriage licenses and presides over civil ceremonies.
In addition to his public service at the courthouse in Snow Hill, Hales, a West Ocean City resident, served the public as a firefighter. After 35 years, he is a Gold Badge member of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company and was president three times, for a total of six years.
Hales also served at the state level and was chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Maryland State Firemen’s Association for nine years. Traveling statewide, he administered the death and disability program for volunteer firefighters.
Hales served 12 years as register of wills and has been clerk of Circuit Court for 16 years. He was president of the Maryland Register of Wills Association and the Maryland Circuit Court Clerks Association.
He also worked on long-term planning and policy decisions while on the Maryland Judicial Council for Judge Robert Bell, chief judge of the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, in 2004 and 2005.