RIVERSIDE, Alabama

From the earliest days of civilization, early settlers realized that they needed a way of recording legal matters like births, deaths, marriages and land purchases. They also realized that they needed to assign a person to perform those tasks and hold them accountable. That’s how the position of Municipal Clerk became one of the first and oldest local government positions. In Alabama, the position of the Municipal Clerk, also known as a City Clerk, has been deeply intertwined with the development of towns and cities since the 19th century. As Alabama municipalities formed after statehood in 1819, Clerks became indispensable figures responsible for maintaining continuity in government. As Alabama expanded, the responsibilities of the Municipal Clerk have grown significantly. Clerks became the primary custodians of municipal records, overseers of elections, and managers of legislative procedures. The City Clerk’s office is the central hub of local government. It serves all administrative and operational departments, as well as the Mayor, City Council, department heads, and the public. Each of these people and departments calls on the City Clerk daily for professional information or provide a service to them. In many municipalities, Clerks also handle accounts payable, human resources, zoning administration, and even event planning, making the position one of the most versatile in local government. Through many trainings and certifications, they continue to uphold the high standards the profession demands. In a publishing by the Alabama League of Municipalities it states: “A literal reading of the duties imposed upon the clerk by statutes and ordinances does not reveal that the office of the municipal clerk is the local intelligence center or that the clerk is relied upon by the governing body of the municipality, the people of the community, and the employees of the municipality, for accurate information concerning the welfare of the city or town.” Professor William Bennett Munro, an eminent political scientist of the 1900's, wrote in one of the first textbooks published on municipal administration: "No other office in municipal service has so many contracts. It serves the mayor, the city council, the city manager (when there is one), and all administrative departments without exception. All of them call upon it, almost daily, for some service or information. Its work is not spectacular, but it demands versatility, alertness, accuracy, and no end of patience. The public does not realize how many loose ends of city administration this office pulls together." Elected officials may only serve part-time and rotate in and out of office, the Clerk must ensure that the municipality’s records, actions, and legislative processes remain consistent and trustworthy. Although the role is often overlooked, Clerks remain essential to the daily functioning of local government. Through dedication, compassion, and responsibility to accuracy, fairness, and public service, a City Clerk helps ensure that every resident is supported and that their community’s government operates with integrity and care.