Armando Ramirez
Available reports...
  • M2 3/11/2019
  • M3 4/10/2019
  • M4 5/10/2019
  • M5 6/10/2019
  • M6 7/10/2019
  • M7 8/12/2019
  • M7 8/12/2019
  • M8 9/10/2019
  • M9 10/10/2019
  • M10 11/12/2019
  • M10 11/12/2019
  • M11 12/10/2019
  • M12 1/10/2020
  • M1 2/10/2020
  • M2 3/10/2020
  • M3 4/10/2020
  • M4 5/11/2020
  • M5 6/10/2020
  • P1 6/19/2020
  • P2 7/3/2020
  • P3 7/17/2020
  • P4 7/24/2020
  • P5 7/31/2020
  • P5 7/31/2020
  • P6 8/7/2020
  • P7 8/14/2020
  • TRP 11/16/2020

Contact Information

Address
PO Box451052
Kissimmee, FL - 34745
Phone
321.333.2239
Candidate's Statement

Armando Ramírez was born and raised in Barrio Buen Consejo, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He served his country with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After completing his service, he relocated to New York City where he began his career with the New York City Police Department.

During his 30-year career as a Detective in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Ramírez worked in homicide, narcotics, major cases, organized crimes, political corruption, economic crimes and sex crimes bureaus. A highly decorated officer, Ramírez would receive numerous commendations including two medals of merits and a medal of honor. In addition, Ramírez also earned two college degrees in criminal justice and political science from Saint Francis College in Brooklyn New York.

Upon retirement, he moved with his wife and children to Kissimmee, Florida and became involved with various organizations and community groups. Ramírez, with a group of community activists, led the fight to regain the single member district system arguing that the at-large election system discriminated against those with fewer economic resources. After ten years, in a federal lawsuit pursuant to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the U.S. District Court decided in favor of the single-member districts. Federal Judge Gregory A. Presnell ruling would dismantle the at-large election system.

Ramírez, two years later, persuaded the Osceola County School Board to conduct a referendum asking voters whether they wanted to adopt the single-member district election system. On January 29, 2008 county voters overwhelmingly approved (with 61 percent of the vote) the single- member district election method for School Board members, replacing the egregious at-large election system.

In 2012, he decided to run for Clerk of the Courts and won with over 65% over the vote. On January 8, 2013, Armando Ramírez was sworn in as the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Osceola County. He became the first Hispanic-American Clerk of the Circuit Court in the State of Florida.

As Clerk, Armando Ramírez has brought sweeping enhancements in all Clerk office functions. During his first term Clerk Ramírez accomplished the timely implementation of E-Filing of court documents in accordance with a 2009-issued mandate by the Supreme Court of the State of Florida within 3 months of taking office. The IT Department was completely overhauled, mapping out and documenting the network and securing it with closed access server room and server cages. Replaced the firewall and implemented an intrusion prevention system configured to eliminate security breaches and other specific events.

Integrated Civil and Criminal divisions into one queue system to ensure efficient and effective operational flow, and reduce citizen wait times. Instituted a payment plan to better enable citizens to spread out the cost of traffic ticket fines over a period of 90-days. Instituted collection and compliance program to enables residents to pay court fines and costs according to their financial situation. Introduced online payments option via the website, and through other convenient community payment partners, such as MyFloridaCounty, Amscot, and nCourt. Clerk Ramírez commissioned a foreclosure examination which brought to light to the public purported mortgage foreclosure fraud in Osceola County. He diversified the workforce to reflect the demographics of the qualified labor pool within Osceola County and increased transparency by providing his annual financial budget reports on the Osceola County Clerk of Court website.

 

During his second term he worked with several Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers throughout the State in support of Amendment 10. Also known as, “The Protection Amendment” it would ensure county officials are elected, not appointed and not abolish the office of sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of election, or clerk of the circuit court. Counties also would not be able to transfer the duties of those officers to another officer or office, or change the length of the official’s four-year term.

The change would transfer back the duties of Comptroller to the Clerk of Courts and guarantee the checks and balances provided by an independently elected Court Clerk to make the County and Board of County Commissioners accountable for all county spending. As Clerk, Armando Ramírez’s office has received perfect audits for four consecutive years for the Finance & IT departments and Evidence Vault. As a Certified Clerk of the Circuit Court by the State of Florida and advocate for Amendment 10 Clerk Ramírez is best suited and equipped to assume the responsibilities of Comptroller on day one.

One of Clerk’s proudest accomplishments was the creation of the Pro Se – Legal Services Clinic. This new service is designed for indigent members of our community who cannot afford legal counsel and represent themselves in civil court (pro se litigants).  The services are available in the courthouse, at no cost to qualifying individuals by the Legal Services Clinic. The Legal Services clinic will educate indigent pro se litigants with understanding court procedures, to ensure that such litigants have significant access to the civil justice system. Appointments can be scheduled on the Clerk's website as well.

Clerk Ramírez’s office created a civil evidence vault with increased technological and security protocol including installation of video monitoring system, employee access verification and temperature control for the protection and sanctity of evidence and vital court documents. Upgraded to an automated telephone system which increases telephone functionality and efficiency, accommodates both English and Spanish callers and reduces wait times.

Clerk Ramírez also continues to stay involved with the community throughout both his terms. Clerk Ramírez has hosted, with his wife of 50 years, an annual Valentine mass wedding event for eight years at the Osceola County Historic Courthouse. The Clerk performs a free English and Spanish marriage ceremony for the first 40 couples who pre-register for the event. A reception with wedding cake is provided to couples and a photo gallery is available for digital download on the Clerk’s website for a period of 90 days following the event.

Never before has the clerk's office been so accessible, user-friendly, convenient, efficient, and technologically advanced. Instead of following, Osceola County Clerk's office is now a leader and a model for others to follow because we listen to and anticipate the needs of the people. Armando Ramírez track record as a proponent for equality for the underserved and underprivileged groups, in addition to championing causes for social justice, has exemplified his continued diligence to serve as your Osceola County Clerk of Court, now and in the future.


Note: The candidate's photograph and statement are supplied by the candidate and are not endorsed by the County Supervisor of Elections or checked for accuracy.
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Candidate qualifying forms and miscellaneous documents