W. Michael
Galliher
Clerk of Circuit Court
about michael
The Heart to Serve, The Will to Lead
Roanoke County Clerk of Circuit Court
Michael was elected as the Clerk of Circuit Court in November 2023. His term begins January 1, 2024.
A Statement from Michael: “Thank you to the citizens of Roanoke County for your support and the confidence in me to serve this wonderful community as your Clerk of Circuit Court. My promise to each of you is to put forth all my effort into leading this office and serving the people of Roanoke County, and I am excited for the future of the Roanoke County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.”
Service for All Citizens
- With over 800 different responsibilities as Circuit Court Clerk as set out by the Code of Virginia. Michael will be a working Clerk and serve all citizens of Roanoke County while leading the Roanoke County Circuit Court Clerk’s office.
Office Services
- Explore new and additional technology to make information and documents more accessible and make information and services readily available to the public and offices doing business with the clerk’s office while keeping costs low.
- Take advantage of Supreme Court training and classes to create a more consistent and uniformed practice of job responsibilities and services in the Clerk’s Office.
- Work with vendors to implement an option to electronically pre-apply for a marriage license and apply for and renew a concealed weapons permit. (First-time applicants will be required to pick up their license in person with their photo ID)
- Replace our paper concealed weapon permits with plastic card permits.
- Explore implementing additional services, such as offering passports.
Employee Development
- Take advantage of Supreme Court training and classes to create a more consistent and uniform practice of job responsibilities and services in the Clerk’s Office.
- Support the staff and give them the tools and guidance they need for success, growth, and career development.
Communication
- With a degree in Communication, Michael understands how important effective communication and transparency are within an office and to the public. Michael wants people to understand the role of the Roanoke County Clerk’s Office and to make the office as accessible as possible.
- Further, Michael will implement a communication plan to provide better internal and external communication. This will inform the community about the office, jury duty, accomplishments, upgrades, and services offered to the public through social media, the website, newsletters, and other services.
Trust and Accountability
- Michael has built my life on trust and holding himself accountable for his choices and actions, and he will bring that same mentality to the clerk’s office. Michael will establish public trust through those same morals and create a workplace environment that ensures pride, teamwork, and a positive atmosphere that delivers consistent quality service to the public.
- An advisory committee will be created with Roanoke County citizens and people who do business within the office to ensure that Michael is held accountable, is in the office and performing the job you hired him to do, and that the Roanoke County Clerk’s Office provides quality, effective and efficient service for all citizens.
Building Strong Relationships
- The clerk’s office works with many people on a daily basis. Michael’s goal is to build and maintain strong relationships with the public, offices, elected leaders, government leaders, and other agencies.
- Build relationships with our local assisted living facilities, hospitals, Hospice, and funeral homes to communicate the next steps and make the probate process easier for family members.
Fiscally Responsible
- Financial management is one of the many duties of the Circuit Court Clerk. Michael’s goal is to implement a more thorough checks and balances procedure within the office to provide a more consistent practice, prevent financial errors, and better manage the financial side of the office.
- Michael will work to ensure that the clerk’s office runs with the most cost-effective options, minimize tax-payer expenses, and make the workload of the clerk’s office staff more efficient and effective.
Preserving History
- Obtain grants through the Library of Virginia and elsewhere to maintain the Historical Records of Roanoke County. In addition, digitize the historical records to make them more accessible to the citizens of Roanoke County and others in the Roanoke County Courthouse and investigate possible additional venues to securely display copies of important documents in partnership with the Winston Link & History Museum of Western Virginia and the Vinton Historical Society Museum.
Community Leaders
- We lose too much local talent to other places. Michael’s goal is to recruit and retain people locally to fill vacancies within the office.
- Michael will work with local schools and colleges to provide educational opportunities to Roanoke County students and teachers regarding the clerk’s office responsibilities and Roanoke County history.
- Michael plans on developing an internship program to help students get a head start on their future.