Candidate Profile: Maribel Gomez Cordero

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If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. Modernize court technology to improve overall service delivery.

The Problem: There is a complete absence of reliable SMS text notification alerts, automated AI agents, or automated customer follow-up metrics to track client satisfaction and ensure quality assurance.

The Solution: My administration will implement a comprehensive digitaloverhaul. This includes deploying automated AI bots to answer common public inquiries 24/7, rolling out a robust SMS notification platform to dramatically reduce missed court appearances, and launching a standard commercial customer feedback loop to actively track and resolve service friction points.

2.  Post-Case Injustices and Accessibility BarriersThe Problem: The current system does a disservice to everyday citizens trying to navigate their lives after interacting with the court system. Specifically, nolle prosequi cases (charges officially dropped by a prosecutor) can be left lingering publicly onthe website, unfairly damaging the reputation and employment prospects of individuals who were never convicted.The Solution: My administration will institute and ensure that when the state drops a case, the public record is instantly cleaned to protect the citizen's right to move forward in life. Furthermore, we will expand intuitive, simplified electronic filing boundaries and multilingual guides to makenavigating court registries straightforward for every working family in Orange County.

3.  Ensure absolute transparency and protection of public and private trust by prioritizing fiscal responsibility in managing the Clerk of Courts budget. The Problem:  Eliminating bureaucratic duplication.The solution: Shifting from a descriptive, passive method of budgeting to a prescriptive, action-oriented strategy that optimizes public funds, protects the vulnerable, and eliminates administrative waste. We will cut costly clerical errors and eliminate the administrative waste generated by paper-heavy backlogs. I will champion transparent public dashboards mapping our operational expenditures against clear performance metrics.

Why do you deserve to elected in this race?*

I deserve to be elected because I am a proven executive with a decades-long record ofcommunity service, crisis leadership, and a fearless legislative track record of standing upfor everyday families against powerful special interests.The Clerk of Courts is an office that handles vulnerable people in moments of highstress—families seeking protection, individuals navigating the legal system,etc.  I am uniquely qualified to bridge the gap betweenadministrative efficiency and human empathy for three undeniable reasons: 1. I hold a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. 2. Uncompromising champion for public integrity. 3. A leader with deep local and regional standing.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?*

If I become the Clerk, I will make sure that my office maintain and reduce cost by examining newer innovation that will allow us to streamline services.

Will you vote Yes or No on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?

I will vote NO. My position: This will bring an estimated impact to Orange County budget for approximately $160 million on year one and year two the impact would be for $270 million. This will affect Family Services, Community Services, IT needs, Administrative Services, Legal Services, etc.How to replace lost revenue: It was mentioned of a State Trust Fund to help pay for services, but at this time there have been no mention of funding source or level of funding.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?

As a Clerk, this would be beyond my responsibilities, but I will like to have fully understanding and have conversations with the right organizations, that will not only look into the revenues but the financial impact it can cause.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida?*

One of the biggest environmental issue that we all Floridian are facing is flooding.

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