Published Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Brown endorses sister for Carroll clerkship

By Winston Skinner

The Times-Herald

A familiar face at the Coweta County Justice Center hopes to be in a different courthouse -- in Carroll County -- this time next year.

Kaye Burson, who works in the office of Clerk of Superior Court Cindy G. Brown, is running for the same post in Carroll County. Burson is much more than just an employee to Brown. The two are sisters, and Brown has formally endorsed Burson for the Carroll County clerk's post.

"It gives me great pleasure that I endorse my sister, Kaye Burson," said Brown, who is entering her third term as Coweta's clerk. "Kaye and I have always been close as sisters, but after working side by side with her for the last seven years, I look at her with a greater respect."

Burson has learned about various aspects of the clerk's job during the past seven years.

"I know she has the knowledge and experience to make a difference in Carroll County," Brown said. "I would be losing a great employee, but my loss would be Carroll County's gain."

Burson has lived in Carroll County for the past 30 years. She worked at Southwire in Carrollton for 24 years, took two years off and then decided she wanted to go back to work. She found her niche working for her sister -- first at the historic Coweta County Courthouse and then at the new facility when it opened in 2006.

Burson and Brown take the work of the clerk's office -- which includes courts and property records -- seriously. "We're not politicians," Brown said.

Brown -- and people who are in and out of the Coweta court building -- encouraged Burson to run for the open seat in Carroll County.

Kenneth Skinner, the current superior court clerk in Carroll County, took office in 1972. He is retiring and not running for re-election. Lucy Beck and Alan J. Lee will be on the July 15 Republican Party ballot in Carroll County, along with Burson.