Cliff Dressel, St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court has announced that he will not be seeking re-election when his present term of office concludes on June 30, 2024. Dressel began his career with the St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court in June 1965 as a Deputy Clerk of Court and in August of 1969 he was appointed Chief Deputy Clerk.
Dressel was elected as Clerk in July 1984 upon the retirement of his uncle, Benny Blakeman. He has been elected to ten (10) consecutive terms over 40 years, bringing his total service to 59 years at the end of his term.
Dressel has had the honor of being the only Clerk of Court to be elected as President of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association for two terms.
Dressel attributes his success to hiring good employees and providing them with the training and equipment to maintain and provide the highest level of service to the public, Court system, legal community, and the parish’s official records as its custodian. Dressel would like to thank his longtime Chief Deputy Clerk of Court, Jane C. Pilant, his current employees and all of his retired Deputy Clerks for their excellent service throughout the many years. Dressel shared that his office is commonly referred to by the legal community as being the best Clerk of Court Office in the State, a complement that he attributes to the dedication of his Chief Deputy and Deputy Clerks. Dressel would especially like to thank his wife Renelle Robicheaux Dressel, their children and family for their love and support throughout his long career. Lastly, Dressel would like to thank the citizens of St. Mary Parish for having their confidence to elect him to office and to a career that has been the source of great pride and fulfillment.
When asked whether Dressel was concerned about someone breaking his record as the longest- tenured Clerk of Court in the State, Dressel commented that “he’d become concerned when they reached 50 years.”