Lori Welch-Bettencourt

Lori Welch Bettencourt

Lori is an Administrative Aide in the County Executive Office, with a split role serving both the Clerk of the Board and Cannabis Licensing, and she is receiving this award today for the role she plays in overseeing the administration of our County’s California Public Records Act System, NextRequest.

Since the implementation of NextRequest, the County has seen steady year-over-year growth in the number of Public Records Act (also known as PRA) requests. These requests have also become more complex, often requiring the review, redaction, and release of hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of records.

Lori plays a central role in coordinating complex responses across multiple departments. She works closely with partners to develop new response templates and improve existing ones, and takes time to meet with, train, and support departmental PRA liaisons. With Lori’s attention to detail and timely reminders, the County successfully completed 897 requests in the past 12 months, averaging just 15 days from submission to closure.

Lori approaches her role with positivity, enthusiasm, professionalism, and exceptional dedication, and her leadership has been instrumental to the continued success of our PRA program.

The Clerk Team

Clerk IIIs Lorena Bibriesca-Camacho, Yvonne Leonor, and Francisco Renteria, Senior Account Clerk Daisy Williams and Program Coordinator Margarita Williams

Left to Right: Margarita Williams, Francisco Renteria, Yvonne Leonor, Lorena Bibriesca-Camacho
Not pictured: Daisy Williams

The Clerk Team is being honored today for its commitment to expanding service options, responding quickly and compassionately to changing federal policies, and providing equitable, reliable services that build trust in the community.

For the past year, the Clerk Team has maintained staff at the South County Services Center in Watsonville, delivering services nearer to residents and providing assistance in Spanish to reduce barriers and improve community connection.

The Team also continued the Passport Saturday events offering passport acceptance services on several Saturdays throughout the year, making it easier for residents to access services outside of regular weekday hours.

The past year also brought a great deal of uncertainty for many Santa Cruz County residents, as communities faced rapidly changing information related to immigration enforcement, questions about birthright citizenship, and new federal guidance affecting gender identity documentation.

These changes created understandable concern for immigrant, mixed-status, and gender-diverse families seeking clear information and support.

The Clerk Team responded quickly by incorporating updated federal guidance into their work and ensuring the entire department was prepared to explain the changes clearly and consistently. Throughout this time, they approached the public with professionalism, patience, and empathy.

Through these efforts, the Clerk Team has strengthened public trust, supported accurate and responsive services, and helped advance the County’s commitment to equitable and accessible services for all Santa Cruz County residents.