Ramirez

By Fallan Patterson

Staff Writer

Incoming Osceola County Clerk of Court Armando Ramirez Monday notified members of outgoing Clerk Malcom Thompson’s executive team of their impending termination.

In letters delivered Monday to five employees of Thompson’s team, Ramirez said their services would no longer be needed under his administration.

Those affected are C. Rodolfo Celis, chief general counsel and public information officer; Deputy Clerk and Chief of Staff Kimberley Hennecy; IT Director John Overstreet; assistant administrator Elizabeth Wiley; and Latifa Ramdani, Thompson’s personal administrative aide.

Their last day at the clerk’s office is Jan. 7, the day before Ramirez is scheduled to be sworn in.

“It is not unreasonable that when an elected official takes office that there are staff changes with the new administration,” Marvin Cortner, Ramirez’s new public information officer, said via email. “The budget would not allow Mr. Ramirez to keep current staff and at the same time bring in people he believes are needed to improve the operation of the office.”

The move is part of Ramirez’s plan to streamline the clerk’s office, including a reorganization of the office by cutting the number of departments headed by directors to three rather than six.

“What will happen is that some departments under Mr. Ramirez will be headed by an administrator rather than a director. Directors make more money than administrators and typically have more people reporting to them,” Cortner said.

Ramirez said in a press release he believes the changes will be positive for the office and he wanted to notify the affected employees as soon as possible so they could start job searches.

“The staffing changes will be the result of a number of factors, including the budget and the need to streamline the clerk’s office,” Cortner said. “In addition, Mr. Ramirez believes it essential to include people in his administration who fit into a planned reorganization, including staff that better reflect the diversity of the Osceola County community.”

Cortner is part of the new executive team Ramirez will bring with him to replace the employees notified Monday of their termination.

Arthur “Beau” Osborne, who lost against Rayelynne Ketchum in the Republican primary for the clerk position, will replace Hennecy as deputy clerk and chief of staff.

“That’s all we’re prepared to announce at this time because (the other positions) are not official until after (Ramirez) is sworn into office,” Cortner said.

No additional terminations are expected for the office at this time, Cortner said.