LAPLACE — Eliana Defrancesch announced she is running for reelection as St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court.

“During my tenure as Clerk of Court, my staff and I have gone from filing cabinets to a computerized new clerk of court’s office, both in mindset and in reality.” Defrancesch said. “Our website is stjohnclerk.org. There is no ‘I’ in this office. ‘We’ work together as a team.

“We have worked with the parish officials, the Sheriff, the District Attorney, the Judges and State Representatives to bring to you the best service possible. This cooperation and communication is necessary for the efficient and effective operations of our civil and criminal justice system.”

Defrancesch said the results are significant:

• The East Bank Annex of the courthouse is a depository for attorneys and the public, and acts as traffic and misdemeanor court.

• Increase pay for jurors and same day payment for services to increase public participation.

• Coordinated with the D.A. and Sheriff and integrated the traffic ticket process for a seamless procedure.

• Added video conferencing to assist the Judges with the appointment of counsel and arraignments. No longer are inmates transported from the LaPlace jail to courthouse for arraignments.

• Clerk of Court portal for Internet access to real estate system due in January.

“All records, real estate, civil and criminal matters, marriage license and UCC’s are imaged for public viewing,” Defrancesch said. “We have increased public viewing stations from two to nine. We are laying the groundwork for Internet access to all records.   We can now provide birth certificates and passports. We added a Facebook page for quick update for jurors, elections and emergency closing.

“We will continue to work together with all government agencies to insure that the public is receiving the best service possible.”

Defrancesch is a graduate of LSU, wife, mother of three sons and grandmother of four. She is a former business owner, schoolteacher and 4th district justice of the peace.

She is a member of the LaPlace Rotary Club, the Clubs past president and former secretary, and was honored with a Paul Harris Fellow Award, also a member of the Fifth Circuit Judges Association, the Louisiana Clerk of Court’s Association, International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers, Property Recorders International Association, the St. John Community Action Committee and former secretary for the Timbermill Museum Association.