Huntsville, AL-Madison County Circuit Court Clerk Jane Smith made her first public appearance Tuesday after pleading guilty to 2 federal misdemeanors last week. She was charged with giving an unauthorized user her password to the justice system computer network. The unnamed person then used the password to obtain information from the secure site.
However, the plea will not hinder her ability to run for her current office again. In the plea, she states that the crime does not constitute moral turpitude, which would bar her from holding office. She is currently seeking her 3rd term as Circuit Court Clerk and says she is feeling confident.
“I think we are going to have a very strong showing on March 13
th and I feel very confident we are going to win.”
Her opponent, David Underwood, was also at the luncheon and says he thinks it is important that public officials are held to a higher standard.
“The public puts their trust in us and I think we are held to a higher standard and with that being said, we are responsible for our actions,” said the retired Madison County Sheriff's Deputy.
Underwood is adamant that Smith's legal troubles are not going to be the focus of his campaign.
“I won’t say that it has helped my campaign. I did not consider it a step forward. I have a campaign to run and I am going to run it on the principles I started on and not try to capitalize on any calamity whatsoever.”
Smith is singing the very same tune saying her past legal troubles should not affect her future.
“We made a mistake, we want to put it behind us and we want to move on and just concentrate on our campaign and concentrate on running the Madison County Circuit Clerks Office.”
Smith has worked in the clerk's office for 39 years. The Republican Primary is March 13th.
