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Echevarria Codilis & Stawiarski

New Pasco clerk seeks technology upgrades, more

September 4, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

New Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles isn’t wasting much time in trying to implement some new initiatives within the clerk’s office.

She was formally appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last month, following the retirement of her predecessor, Paula O’ Neil.

The new clerk outlined a number of her ideas during an Aug. 27 East Pasco Networking Group breakfast meeting in Dade City.

Newly appointed Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles was the featured guest speaker at a recent East Pasco Networking Group Meeting in Dade City. (Kevin Weiss)

One of her primary aims, she said, is to boost the office’s technology capabilities, which will improve efficiency and cut costs in an agency that staffs over 300.

The technology improvements include the development of a case management system, which would provide electronic court files to the county’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, she said.

Alvarez-Sowles pointed out that Pasco County is the only one out of 67 counties in the state that still requires paper files.

That system costs her office time and money, she said.

“We have this huge, expensive budget related to paper…so what we’re trying to do is leverage our technologies,” she said.

Related to that, Alvarez-Sowles said her office is developing an automated docket program to streamline simple actions, such as indexing case numbers “to take the workload off of the team, so they can focus on the more complex and complicated functions.”

Alvarez-Sowles said she’s also looking into the feasibility of organizing attorney consultations within the clerk’s legal resource center at both county courthouses in Dade City and New Port Richey — to help unrepresented individuals or those unable to afford an attorney in civil matters related to divorce, residential landlord/tenant, small claims and so on.

The program would model larger counties, such as Orange, Palm Beach and Pinellas, Alvarez-Sowles said, whereas the clerk’s office partners with local general practice attorneys to offer 15 minutes or so of legal guidance, at a rate of about a $1 per minute. The program could take at least a year to implement, she said.

Alvarez-Sowles said the affordable consultations “wouldn’t create an attorney-client relationship, but it just gives (unrepresented individuals) the ability to maneuver through and know that they can do it on their own.”

She underscored the need for such a service in the county: “So many times, people come to our front counter and we cannot give them legal advice. We know that they need to file a motion, but we can’t say, ‘You need to file a motion,’ because we’ll get in trouble for the unauthorized practice of law…”.

More generally, Alvarez-Sowles in her new role said she wants to build upon the office’s values of compassion and helpfulness toward others.

“When someone comes to our office, we don’t judge them,” the clerk said.

“People coming into our world in the clerk’s office, for the majority, they’re on like the worst time of their life. They’re coming in, they’re scared, they’re stressed out, they’re hurt, they’re angry, they’re not in a good place.

“We can pull up their case information and see what’s going on in their life very quickly  and easily, but at any time, any one of us could be on the other side of that counter… so whatever it is, we’re here to help them find a better day, we’re there to help them get to that better day.”

Alvarez-Sowles is the county’s eighth clerk and comptroller.

She was named an interim successor by Sixth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Anthony Rondolino, upon O’ Neil’s retirement on July 1. She received DeSantis’ appointment on Aug. 9.

Alvarez-Sowles is filling out the balance of term for the post vacated by O’ Neil.

The new clerk said at the breakfast meeting she plans to run for election in 2020. “I will be putting my name in. I do intend to run,” she said.

Prior to her appointment, Alvarez-Sowles was serving as the clerk’s office chief operations officer (COO) under O’ Neil since 2010, a position she said is still unfilled.

The transition to the more senior role has been seamless for her, she said, however, it comes with added responsibility.

“There has been no hiccups, nothing that has tripped me up,” Alvarez-Sowles said. “The difference is before, I would do the research and make a recommendation. And now, I make the decision, so the pressure is a little more weight on the shoulders.”

The new clerk also gave kudos to her predecessor.

She said of O’ Neil: “I had one of the best mentors anyone could ever have asked for, her community outreach and her caring for our Pasco County.”

Born in Tampa, Alvarez-Sowles played soccer at the University of South Florida then earned her law degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan.

From 2000 to 2005, she practiced real estate law with the Tampa firm of Echevarria, Codilis & Stawiarski P.I., and spent a year as real estate development manager for the nonprofit Housing & Education Alliance Inc., before joining the Palm Beach Clerk & Comptroller’s Office as director of branch court services.

Alvarez-Sowles said she stopped practicing law because “it didn’t fill my cup up of what was my purpose.”

Her purpose instead, she said, lies in the public service arena because “that’s how I feel I can give back to our community.”

Published September 04, 2019

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Anthony Rondolino, East Pasco Networking Group, Echevarria Codilis & Stawiarski, Housing & Education Alliance, Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller, Paul S. O' Neil, Ron DeSantis, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, University of South Florida

Nikki Alvarez-Sowles named county clerk & comptroller

August 14, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Gov. Ron DeSantis has named Nikki Alvarez-Sowles to serve as the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller.

She will serve in that role through January 2021, filling out the balance of term for the post vacated by Paula S. O’ Neil, who retired on July 1.

Nikki Alvarez-Sowles

Alvarez-Sowles is the county’s eighth clerk & comptroller. She was named an interim successor by Sixth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Anthony Rondolino, upon O’ Neil’s retirement. She received DeSantis’ appointment on Aug. 9.

“I am humbled and honored to have Governor DeSantis’ and Chief Judge Rondolino’s appointments,” said Alvarez-Sowles, in a news release from her office.

Alvarez-Sowles has served as the chief operations officer since 2010, guiding the adoption of numerous taxpayer-friendly initiatives, boosting efficiency, enhancing transparency and reducing costs, the release says.

Florida Sen. Wilton Simpson, whose district includes most of Pasco County, speaks highly of Alvarez-Sowles, in the release.

“Nikki’s commitment to serving the hardworking people of Pasco County shines brightest through her steady leadership and unwavering work ethic,” Simpson said. “On behalf of the people of Pasco County, I want to thank Gov. DeSantis for ensuring an honorable public servant takes the reigns here in Pasco.”

Born in Tampa, Alvarez-Sowles played soccer at the University of South Florida (where she was a member of the Scholar-Athlete 3.0 Club and a student government senator) before earning her law degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan.

From 2000 to 2005, she practiced real estate law with the Tampa firm of Echevarria, Codilis & Stawiarski P.I., and spent a year as real estate development manager for the nonprofit Housing & Education Alliance Inc., before joining the Palm Beach Clerk & Comptroller’s Office as director of branch court services.

A chance meeting with O’ Neil and several members of her executive team during a statewide conference luncheon led to further discussion and, ultimately, Alvarez-Sowles joined the Pasco Clerk & Comptroller’s Office.

Examples of her involvement include:

  • Immediate past president, Leadership Pasco
  • West Pasco Bar Association, member and past president
  • Rotary Club of New Port Richey

She also has been a member of various committees and workgroups devoted to performance excellence in government work, such as:

  • Florida Clerks & Comptrollers’ Best Practices Workgroup
  • Supreme Court workgroups
  • Florida Bar Small Claims Rules Committee
  • Pasco-Hernando State College Technical Advisory Committee for Paralegal Studies
  • Pasco County Schools Success Plan Committee
  • Advisor to board of directors for Housing and Education Alliance Inc.

This year, Alvarez-Sowles served as a Florida Governor’s Sterling Examiner and joined Florida Center for Public Management, Certified Public Manager Program, based at Florida State University, as an adjunct instructor.

She is married to Kevin Sowles, and they have two children: daughter Lexi and son Soren. The family lives in Land O’ Lakes.

Published August 14, 2019

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Anthony Rondolino, Echevarria Codilis & Stawiarski, Florida State University, Housing & Education Alliance, Leadership Pasco, Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller, Paula S. O' Neil, Ron DeSantis, Rotary Club of New Port Richey, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, University of South Florida, West Pasco Bar Association, Wilton Simpson

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February 23, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

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03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer “Foodie Feast: Apple Pie Bombs” on March 5. Participants can learn how to make tasty, apple pie bombs. Watch the prerecorded video between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., online at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . … [Read More...] about 03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

03/06/2021 – Pancakes and trains

The Grand Concourse Railroad, 11919 Alric Pottberg Road in Shady Hills, will offer a Pancake Breakfast and Unlimited Train Rides event on March 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for kids. For information, visit Grand Concourse Railroad on Facebook. … [Read More...] about 03/06/2021 – Pancakes and trains

03/08/2021 – Tomato garden

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present a video on how to grow a tomato garden. Those interested can view the video at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary, all day, on March 8. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email . … [Read More...] about 03/08/2021 – Tomato garden

03/09/2021 – Grilled cheese

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present a video on how to make green grilled cheese on March 9 at 4:30 p.m., for grades four to seven. To view the video, visit the Library Cooperative on Facebook or Instagram. … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Grilled cheese

03/09/2021 – Poetry discussion

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host a virtual poetry discussion group on “Female Power!” on March 9 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 16 and older, via Zoom. Participants can share a favorite poem or take part in discussions on poems about women or written by women poets. Themed poems will be sent out to help with the session. Registration is required. For information, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020 or . … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Poetry discussion

03/09/2021 – Technology Tuesday

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer a Technology Tuesday: Robots & Machines on March 9, through a curbside pickup activity. The kit will help kids learn more about technology, from robots to coding, through online and hands-on activities. The pickup is limited to 35 participants and must be reserved ahead of time. A book bundle can be included. Kits must be picked up between March 9 at 10 a.m., and March 13 at 5 p.m. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Technology Tuesday

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