9
MANATEE’S
Guardian Angel
Clerk of Court Keeps Watch Over The County
WORDS: Amy Bell
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Whether or not you believe in
guardian angels, one thing is
certain: Manatee County has
a very special Angel watching over our
community. In October 2015, Angelina
Angel Colonneso was ocially sworn
in as Manatee Countys rst emale Cler
of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
Since then, Colonneso has taen on a
heavy load of responsibilities, all in the
name of protecting and serving Manatee
County citizens.
While most community members have
probably heard of and even voted for the
Cler of Court, many do not understand
eactly what this elected ofcial does. We
recently sat down with Colonneso to learn
more about her job duties and what led
her to tae on this important role.
CLERK OF COURT 101
Every four years, the citizens of Manatee
County elect the Cler of the Circuit
Court & Comptroller. Before Colonneso
was elected in 2015, R.B. “Chips” Shore
served as Manatee Countys Cler from
1976 through July of 2015.
The Cler oversees a staff of more
than 275 people and is responsible for
performing nearly 1,000 constitutional or
statutory functions or duties, representing
the broadest range of responsibility of any
locally elected ofcial. As an ofcer of a
court of justice, the Cler & Comptroller
supports the county’s criminal, civil and
juvenile courts by processing, ling and
recording the court records.
“We handle the records for most
major milestones in our citizens’ lives,”
Colonneso explains. “In addition to
handling marriage licenses, we also
support the court system by maintaining
all court records.” This includes
everything from landlord-tenant cases,
small claims, civil cases and probate
to domestic violence petitions, juvenile
cases and criminal cases. “Everything
from a minor trafc ticet to some of the
most heinous crimes that happen in our
county,” she adds.
As the County Recorder, the Cler
of the Circuit Court also maintains all
other instruments authorized by law to
be recorded - such as real or personal
property transactions, judgments entered
by a Florida court, military discharges, tax
liens and releases.
“We are the Comptroller, Treasurer
and Auditor of the county and act as a
chec and balance’ function on behalf
of taxpayers,” says Colonneso. “We
also invest the county funds and earn
revenues on county funds to offset
the tax burden on Manatee County’s
taxpayers. We are the Cler to the Board
of County Commissioners, maintaining
their minutes.”
ast but not least, the Cler also manages
ve local historic pars, including oversight
of the Manatee County Historical Records
ibrary, which includes ofcial records
dating bac to the 150’s.
PRE-DESTINED PATH
While there is no question that her
current position is extremely demanding,
Colonneso was practically destined to
tae on the challenging role. It all started
in 1990, when she rst started woring
with the Cler of Court ofce.
“I wored for my predecessor Chips Shore
while in college,” she explains. “I was
nishing up my Bachelor’s Degree at the
time and woring for Bealls Department
Angel and Judge Ed Nicholas who swore her