What Does the City Clerk Do?

By Sue Herbers

The non-partisan position of city clerk is administrative with many duties and responsibilities dictated by state law and the Torrance city charter.

Paraphrasing William Bennett Munro, in a 1934 textbook on municipal administration -

No other office in municipal service has so many contracts; it is where many loose ends of city administration are pulled together. It serves the mayor, city council, city manager, and all administrative departments who call on the clerk almost daily for some service or information. The clerk's work is not spectacular, but it demands versatility, alertness, accuracy, and no end of patience.

The city clerk serves as keeper of the city's official records, administrator of city contracts, receives legal documents on behalf of the city.

One of the most difficult but rewarding responsibilities of this job is directing and coordinating the elections for Torrance. I've worked with and provided assistance to the Los Angeles County Registrar for all elections to ensure a fair, accurate and convenient voting experience for citizens.