Thank you for your interest in my campaign to be re-elected as Harris County District Clerk!
The role of District Clerk is one few are familiar with. The Clerk is the record-keeper for Harris County Courts; she handles funds related to cases; she coordinates the jury panel selection process; and more. It’s a behind-the-scenes role that’s so important to a well-run judicial system.
To learn more about the office check out this video on our Facebook page.
A successful District Clerk must have strong management, organizational, and financial skills, as well as a strong moral and work ethic. I have these traits, and my experience with grassroots political organizations and my financial expertise as a CPA qualify me for the job.
We have made tremendous progress in this first term, I am asking for your support to secure a second term, to continue the good work we have started.
I look forward to continuing to serve you!
Our Achievements
In my first term as Harris County District Clerk, we’ve done a lot of work to make sure that our residents have access to responsive, effective, and efficient services.
Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess received the prestigious G. Thomas Munsterman Award for Jury Innovation. The award was bestowed by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), which has distinguished District Clerk Burgess for successfully implementing e-Juror, an electronic summoning system, providing free parking, coffee and meal vouchers to Harris County jurors, as well as, launching an outreach campaign to promote jury participation and diversity in appearance rates. Harris County Commissioners Court recognized District Clerk Burgess by presenting her with a Resolution for winning the Munsterman Award.
Implemented various programs to improve staff productivity and morale, including giving much needed raises to productive employees, converting temp staff to permanent employees, and issuing over 300 laptops to enable employees to work from home and to continue serving Harris County residents during COVID-19.
Launched the “Stand for Justice” campaign to promote jury service, increase appearance rates, and minority participation in jury pools.
Introduced electronic jury summons with online pre-registration & reminder notices via email and text messages.
Modernized payment systems to accept credit cards for criminal fines and payment plans, instead of money orders and cash.
Conducted an internal audit that identified over $85 million in unbilled and uncollected civil court fees going back over 20 years. Collected over $4.5 million in of these stale fees and instituted monthly billing.
Created a Year in Review Report to increase transparency for the public.
Meet Marilyn
Biography
After graduating from Louisiana State University with an accounting degree, Marilyn Burgess launched a successful career in business and became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). But when she went to work for the Texas Parent Teachers Association (PTA) she found her true calling: fighting and advocating for causes that better the lives of teachers, working- and middle-class families, single mothers, and children who need a helping hand.
“Maybe I always knew I had a future in public service. I was raised by parents who gave back to their community,” Burgess says. “But I recognized when I was at Texas PTA working on behalf of children, parents, and teachers that I was meant to be an advocate for these groups – an advocate for those who sometimes have no voice and no influence.” It was Burgess’ desire to lead change that brought her to announce her candidacy for Harris County District Clerk. “I have the executive experience needed to steer the District Clerk’s Office towards a more efficient and transparent operation,” Burgess says. “With me, Harris County gets seasoned, measured, smart leadership. I feel we have restored integrity and sound fiscal management to the office and as promised, I have prioritized the hard working staff that run the daily operations.”
Burgess developed her belief in hard work, the value of education, and public service growing up in Spearsville, a north Louisiana town of 350 people, about five miles from Arkansas. Burgess’ parents were lifelong Democrats. Her father was active in community affairs, representing the Spearsville region in a role similar to county commissioner for twelve years. When her father attended state Democratic conventions, the whole family went along. “I met two or three governors while growing up,” Burgess says.
After Burgess’ mother retired from her position as chair of the local hospital board, she served as mayor of Spearsville during the final years of her life. “Growing up, my parents instilled in me certain core Democratic values. I believe in the important role Social Security plays as a safety net for senior citizens during retirement,” she says. “I believe there is a moral obligation for society to provide good public schools so education can act as the great equalizer for the less well-off.”
Upon graduating from LSU, Burgess accepted a position with a Dallas accounting firm. Later, she moved to Austin, where she raised her daughter as a single mom and was retained as the outside accounting firm for the Texas PTA. That relationship led to her being hired as the Executive Director of the PTA. In that role, she worked with lawmakers to pass legislation for the health, education, and welfare of the children of Texas, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Graduated Driver’s Licensing, and other laws, as well as leading a fight against school vouchers that would have redirected tax dollars to private schools.
In 2002 Burgess moved to Houston, where she served as president of the North Houston-Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce. In that role, she helped win a tax designation favorable to area businesses and gained an intimate knowledge of the needs and concerns of small and large businesses. Prior to being elected District Clerk, she served as Chief Financial Officer at The Fastener Connection, a family-owned fastener company in north Harris County.
Outside of work, Burgess, who lives in The Heights, enjoys spending time with her daughter Lindsey and two grandchildren, Reagan (14) and Geoffrey (12), who live in Montgomery.