Candidate: Jaime NesSmith

Dear Fellow Citizens of Dixie County,
After being approached by members of our community, discussing it with family, and much prayer, I would like to formally announce that I am seeking election to the office of Dixie County Clerk of Court. Due to having 24 combined years of experience as a Legal Assistant, Paralegal, and Judicial Assistant, I believe that I have the knowledge, leadership and work ethic necessary to make positive improvements to this office. I want you, the public, to feel welcomed when you enter any of those doors. I want you to feel like you have been given our best shot at helping you with whatever task you are trying to accomplish at the time. I recognize the need and I have ideas for policy and procedure changes that I believe will help things run more efficiently throughout the Clerk's office. I will prove to my fellow citizens that you made the right choice by electing me to take this on. I would very much appreciate your support and vote!  A little more about me...

FAMILY

I am married to Lance NesSmith, son of Jimmie & Nadara Corbin NesSmith, grandson of the late Vasco NesSmith & Emma Lou Curry NesSmith, and the late Ulysses Corbin & Sally Pridgeon Corbin. We just celebrated our 20-year anniversary in April 2020. Together we have 3 children, Raigan, Jake and Avery. My parents are Rick Landrum (Edith Landrum) and Deborah Ganus Walker, and Donnie Dees. My grandparents are the late C.P. Landrum & Marion Barber Landrum McKinney, and the late Teddy P. Ganus, and Jacquelin Croft Ponte. I am a lifelong resident of Dixie County, having grown up in the 1st District.

OCCUPATION(S)
Judicial Assistant to County Judge Jennifer Johnson, Dixie County, FL, 2015-present
Third Judicial Circuit Judicial Assistant Representative, 2018-present (representing all seven counties in our Circuit)
Paralegal/Legal Assistant to Jennifer J. Ellison (Johnson) 2009-2014
Paralegal/Legal Assistant to M. Michael O’Steen, P.A., 2013
Legal Assistant to Robert Moeller, June 1996 to April 2008

EDUCATION
Dixie County High School Class of 1994
Associate in Arts degree from Florida Gateway College
Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University, 2010

EXPERIENCE
I worked as a Legal Assistant and Florida Registered Paralegal during the years 1996-2015. During the latter portion of this tenure, I worked for our then-County Attorney and School Board Attorney, which gave me experience in dealing with issues involving our county operations. From January 2015-present, I have been employed as our County Judicial Assistant. During these years, I have gained a lot of experience in interacting with the public, deputy clerks in Dixie and other counties, judges, court administration, attorneys, etc. I have years of hands-on experience and knowledge of the types of cases that come before our Circuit Court and County Court systems including Felony, Misdemeanor, Juvenile Delinquency, Criminal Traffic, Civil Traffic, Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Dependency, Guardianship, Adoption, Probate, Mental Health, Foreclosure, Eviction, Small Claims, Circuit Civil, and County Civil cases.

JOB-RELATED TRAININGS I HAVE COMPLETED (TOPICS): 
Unified Family Court
Risk Protection Orders
Dealing with Addiction Issues as a J.A.
Professionalism & Diversity in Accordance with Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Drug Court & Mental Health Court
The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
An Intro. to Traffic Law – Points and Privilege
Electronic Travel Vouchers
Human Trafficking
Ex Parte Communications
Technology: Judicial Calendaring
2019 Kevin Mitnick Security Awareness Training
DUI Court
Referee Cases
Identity Theft
Sovereign Citizens
Juvenile Justice
Appeals
Court Administration Role

MY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
-Director and Superintendent on the Board of the Suwannee River Livestock Fair, 2013 to present
-Chairperson of the Dixie Friends of NRA fundraising committee, 2011 to present
-Dixie FFA Alumni Treasurer, 2019 to present
-Dixie Education Foundation, 2019
-Founder and Leader of Dixie Wranglers 4-H Club, 2005-present
-FWC Certified Volunteer Hunter Safety Instructor, 2013 to 2018
-Chairperson of the School Advisory Council at Anderson Elementary School, 2010 to 2015
-Recording Secretary of the School Advisory Council at Anderson Elementary School, 2008-2010
-Co-Coordinator of Red Belly Day festival for 10 years - sponsored by Dixie Co. Chamber of Commerce
-Other: My children have been involved in various extracurricular and sports activities here throughout the years including middle school and high school volleyball, football, softball, FFA, 4-H, Babe Ruth and Little League.