Wednesday, February 1, 2012
9:00-10:00 a.m.
MAAR Auditorium

Enjoy a one-hour info-packed presentation. Clerk Mitch Needleman will speak about the website, how to search and read the property information, changes and rules, laws, and other valuable information we should know as REALTORS® to help our customers and clients.

Please bring your questions — and bring someone else with you!

Refreshments will be provided.

See you there!
Wendy Murray
Legislative Affairs Chairman

legaslative affairs

Please allow me to introduce you to someone I have a lot of respect for-MITCH NEEDELMAN, Clerk.

During the time that I have worked for the Clerk of Courts, I have had the opportunity to work for three different Clerks; Mr. Crawford, Mr. Ellis, and Mitch Needelman. Each Clerk had a totally different managerial style. While each of them brought something different to the table, Mitch Needelman is the first person I have ever offered to publicly support. All my co-workers have told me over the years that it is not wise to support a candidate when you work for an elected official. The reason for this is that if the person you are supporting does not win, then you will probably be out of a job after the election.

I was the assistant Personnel Director before Mitch Needelman was elected. As much as I loved that job overall, the last four years in that position were difficult ones. Our office faced many budgetary strains. One of my tasks was to process personnel changes that were implemented to reduce the Clerk of Courts budget shortfall in our office. I helped process pay reductions, hour reductions, furloughs, and lay-offs. Almost every time I would deliver the bad news to an employee, they would tell me what impact that change was going to have on them and their families. That was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It was heartbreaking every time I met with an employee and explained to them what was happening. It got so bad that each time I would go into an office, employees would avoid making eye contact with me and walk in the opposite direction in case I was there to deliver them bad news.

I was devastated when Mr. Ellis quit in the middle of his term. I could not believe that he was walking out on us (the employees) half way through his term. Many of the staff felt abandoned by him. I am not about to give him a second opportunity to abandon the employees or the citizens again. Mitch Needelman was elected by the citizens of Brevard County as the new Clerk of Courts for 2011-2012. I knew nothing about this man when he won that election. And he was going to be in charge of my future. I was shocked to say the least when the Personnel Director told me she had recommended me for the Executive Assistant position for Mitch Needelman. I was unsure about accepting a position of this nature and working for someone I did not even know. Mitch Needelman spent an entire afternoon with me telling me what his expectations would be and he listened as I told him what my concerns were. I literally tried to convince him not to hire me for the position. I told him I hated politics and did not really want to report directly to the Clerk. But the more time we spent together, a certain calm came over me and the job offer just “felt right”. I accepted the offer to work as his executive assistant and have not regretted it one moment. It only took me about three months before I told him that I have never supported any candidates in the past. There comes a time when a person must stand up for what is right. My family and I are honored to openly support Mitch Needelman for Clerk.

Mitch Needelman is a long time proven champion of fiscal responsibility who believes in reducing the cost of government without compromising service to the people. Mitch is also a community minded individual and with his wife’s charity “4 the Kids of Brevard” works diligently to ensure that at risk youths are given an opportunity to be successful in life through music. Mitch and Joannie also assist indigent children and their families to receive presents at Christmas through the same 501C3. In addition to his experience as a public official and his charitable community service, Mitch holds a bachelors in Organizational Management and dual masters degrees: Public Administration and Human Resources.

While many other Clerks offices statewide did have to continue to process pay reductions, hour reductions, furloughs, and layoffs last year, our office did not. Mitch implemented innovative ideas that kept all of our employees secure in their jobs while returning money to the taxpayers. It is an honor to work for him.

I am asking you to support MITCH NEEDELMEN for CLERK. There are several different ways you can help:

1. Sign a Petition
• We are currently working to collect 4,000 signed petitions from registered voters.
• It is very important that the petitions be completely filled out: Print your name as it appears on your voter registration card, Include your date of birth or registration number, street address, city, zip code, then sign and date the form.
• You can mail the completed petition to my home address: Jim and Renee McGrory, 160 Jablo Ave., Cocoa, FL 32927.
• If you are unable to mail me your petition, I would be happy to pick it up from you. Feel free to call me at (321) 863-7011 to pick up a petition.
• Please note that it is very important that you do not contact me at my job.

2. Financial Support
• Financial contributions are important for a successful campaign.
• Each registered voter can contribute up to $500.00 each.
• All donations are appreciated!
• No amount is too small!
• $1.00 will mail three campaign cards.

3. Display Campaign Support
• We are seeking high traffic prominent locations (residental and businesses) to display campaign signs.

4. Volunteer for the campaign
• By walking
• Hosting a gathering with Mitch Needelman
• Phone calls
• Walk in the July 4th parade in Melbourne
• Help spread the word

5. VOTE for MITCH NEEDELMAN !!!

Thank you for taking the time to read this email. Please forward it to all of your family, friends, and neighbors or send me email addresses and I will be happy to contact them.

If you have any questions about Mitch Needelman or the Clerk of Courts, please let me know and I will be happy answer them.

Many Thanks,
Renee McGrory

DOWNLOAD THE PETITION NOW!!!
Petition

Download The PDF

Needelman Reorganizes Clerk’s Office

February 2, 2011 – Tittusville – In what recently sworn in Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts said was the third phase of a five phase re-organization of his office, Mitch Needelman announced he was consolidating 8 departments, reclassifying 33 positions and eliminating 17.

Needelman officially began his tenure as the Clerk on January 1, and facing more than $2 million in budget short falls, said he knew that a new approach was needed to achieve the constitutional and statutory mandates of his office.

“With our new management team in place, we requested that the clerk’s office leadership give us a fair and honest assessment of each of the departments,” Needelman said. “What they brought to us was a baseline for necessary changes.”

“We found we could eliminate the duplication of services found in some departments, and we found that many positions were either redundant or simply unneeded to perform our mission,” Needelman said. “If we’re going to move forward, this consolidation was the best way to begin.”

According to the Clerk’s internal audit, the reorganization will save more than $1 million annually and will yield instant savings of more than a third of that in the next quarter.

“We were seeing a wound that was bleeding out, and we needed to take immediate action to stop it,” Needelman said. “By eliminating duplicated and unneeded positions and combining like and complimentary functions into single departments we can stabilize the situation.”

Additionally Needelman credited his leadership team for acting quickly to asses and address issues effectively.
“I brought in people with a track record in business to give the office a fresh perspective based on a private sector service model,” Needelman said. “That new way of looking at government has provided this opportunity to save a million dollars a year, and we are only in the 3rd phase of our 5 phase plan.”

Needelman a former Florida House member said it was never an easy thing to cut from the budget, and to make these kinds of sweeping changes, but that they were necessary and would be best for the clerk’s real customers—the tax payers.

Download The PDF

Clerk Offers “One-Stop” Passport Service

February 1, 2011—Viera—beginning today, the Brevard Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts announced that residents will be able to get their passport photos at the Viera Clerk‟s office.

“This is a part of our ongoing efforts to increase the level of service our customers can expect from their clerk‟s office,” Needelman said. “It is a real tangible service that demonstrates our team‟s commitment to the people of Brevard County.”

The service will be extended as a part of what Needelman called the “One-Stop” approach, as passport applicants will be able to apply and have processes passport applications at the Clerk‟s office and will now be able to have their photos taken there, as well.

No longer will passport applicants be required to bring in a picture, The Clerk‟s Office will provide the service if the applicant desires. This service is now available for a nominal fee of just $10, and will begin for one month on special of just $8.

“This is our „One-Stop‟ passport service and we are very pleased and proud to be able to offer it to the people of Brevard,” Needelman said.

The program will be piloted at the Brevard Clerk of the Courts office in Viera, but will be extended to all 4 Clerk‟s office locations once it is established.

*****
Contact: Mitch Needelman (321) 243-7752 (OR) mitchneedelman@earthlink.net

The Clerk Opening Address

As 2011 begins, I am proud to have been chosen by Brevard County voters to serve as your Brevard County Clerk of the Circuit Courts. For the past several weeks, I have had the privilege of operating beside so many of the hard working members of the Clerk’s team and together I know we will do great things for Brevard County and its citizens.

In the coming weeks, you will notice many changes. You will be asked to assist us as we shape the Clerk’s team. We will be actively working to ensure the success of the entire Clerk’s Office and you are an integral part of all we are doing.

As I ran for this position, I heard much from the voters of Brevard County about what they wanted from and expected from their Clerk and our office. I have heard them and I will serve them and the county by making the Brevard County Clerk of Courts office a model of efficiency and good government.

As I worked in each department over the past several weeks, I listened to staff about many ways that you have already identified for us, as a team, to improve the way we serve our community, and I have heard you, and we begin now.

As we begin a new year, our first year together, we are at the precipice of great things for our entire team, for our entire county and for the good of the people we serve. In the coming year, we face great challenges. We face many hurdles. But together, with your help and support, I know that the Brevard County Clerk of The Circuit Courts can and will be a shining example of the way that government can be. We will be a model for others around our state to follow. We will raise the bar in providing the highest levels of service to our constituents, and doing so at the most equitable costs to our community.

You and I will redefine the way that our office does the people’s business. I am confident that every challenge will be met in the most professional manner.

Each member of the Clerk’s team continues to be a vital part of our success, and I know that we will set a new standard, and meet it with the same resolve and determination that you have demonstrated in the past.
I will bring all of my energy and all of my passion for public service to work each and every day, and I will expect each member of this team to do that same. I will lead with a singular vision for making our team the best of its kind anywhere in our community, state and nation, and I will demand the same level of commitment from each of you that I demand each day from myself.

I look forward to serving the people of Brevard County alongside each of you, and I remain confident that by working together, we can make a difference in the lives of the citizens we serve.

Thank you for your service and may God bless you and yours.

Download The PDF

“Brevard’s New Clerk Sworn In”

January 4, 2011—Viera—At a ceremony at the Brevard County Government Center in Viera, recently elected Brevard County Clerk of the Circuit Courts, Mitch Needelman his oath of office and was officially sworn in to his new position.

Needelman, who won the seat in November’s election, following the resignation of former clerk Scott Ellis, was administered his oath of office by Florida senior judge and longtime family friend Dade County judge Deehl.

“This is a new day for me and for the Clerk’s Office,” Needelman said at the Viera event. “I am honored that my father’s best friend and my mentor was able to be with us to administer my oath.”

In Needelman’s remarks, the 8 year former Florida House member cited his lifetime commitment to public service and strong support of his wife Joan and family his inspiration for serving in his new office. He told more than 100 onlookers, including many Clerk’s office employees, that he looked forward to working with his staff to continue to improve the way government served the people.

“We need to look at the way our government approaches serving our bosses, the people, and provide the service they expect in the most responsible and accountable way,” Needelman said. “To do this I am going to rely on one of the most professional and dedicated staff’s in the state.”

Following his oath of Office, Needelman hosted a reception at the Holiday Inn for clerk’s staff and other attendees of his inauguration, where he told them, “It’s a new day. That doesn’t mean that yesterday was bad, but that this new day is even better.”

“It’s like watching a sunrise over the river,” Needleman said. “The new day in front of us is about more than balancing the budget or serving our courts but about hope and about helping restore Brevard’s confidence in the office and all of the offices that serve them.”

Needelman officially started as the Brevard County Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts on January 1, 20011.

*****

Contact: Mitch Needelman at (321) 243-775 or at mitchneedelman@earthlink.net

• Mark A. Gager
• Pastor Dean – Riverside Baptist Church
• Command Sergeant Major William Ryan – Ret.
• Judge Deehl

The reception was held at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Viera, Florida immediately after the ceremony.

To view photos from the event, click here.