Community forum: resident recounts missing probate order and calls to make Clerk of Superior Court an elected post

During community forum on Dec. 2, several residents raised governance and social‑service concerns facing Pierce County.

Heather Benedict described a missing final court order in her mother’s probate case that she said has been absent from the official record for nearly a decade despite having been announced in open court. Benedict said obtaining answers has been difficult, that the Clerk of the Superior Court is appointed by the county executive (not elected), and that she is working with the 2026 Charter Review Commission to propose making the clerk an elected position so voters — not a political appointment — choose the official responsible for maintaining public records. She framed this as a transparency and accountability concern tied to residents’ trust in the justice system.

Other public commenters raised social‑service issues: Angeline Esquierdo, a volunteer at The Salvation Army Hope Market in Puyallup, said local food banks had been unable to provide staples (eggs, milk, baby formula, diapers) and asked the council to ensure this food bank received allocations from the proposed budget; council members later responded that district allocations were included and that staff had coordinated local partners. Angeline Musquierdo urged the council to address labor‑trafficking awareness, improve job quality and create validated reporting processes for abusive workplaces.

Council members thanked the commenters, noted the council had included district‑level food‑bank allocations in the budget amendment in response to SNAP cuts, and closed community forum.

What’s next: residents with casework or record questions were directed to county staff; the petitioner said she will pursue a Charter Review Commission proposal to make the Clerk of the Superior Court an elected office.