Susan Goodman Carden, lifelong resident of Cumberland, has announced her candidacy for the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court. “Having spent my life here, attending our schools, and knowing the folks who live here,” Carden explains, “I’ve always wanted the best for Cumberland County. The crux of this position is the details of every transaction and every filing. Everything has to be done in the right way and at the right time. I want the people of Cumberland to know that I will sweat these details for them. They will always have a dutiful and responsive person in the Clerk’s Office, someone who is glad to help solve problems and assist with any questions.”

Graduating second in her class at Cumberland High School, Carden spent one year at Longwood University as a Longwood Scholar before going on to complete her bachelor’s degree at VCU, graduating with highest honors.

During her work history, Carden’s supervisors repeatedly recognized and promoted her. The most recent of these was when Fuqua School President Ruth Murphy promoted her from the middle school classroom where she had taught for five years to Dean of the Middle and Upper Schools, a decision Murphy described as “one of the best of my career.” As Dean, Carden supervised over two dozen faculty and staff and more than 200 students.

Former colleagues have high praise for Carden. “She is the most organized, detail-oriented co-worker and administrator with whom I have had the pleasure to work,” recalls Cumberland resident Terri Wyatt, who taught at Fuqua. “Precision and commitment to confidentiality standards and workplace mutual respect are further attributes which recommend Susan for this office.”

Carden currently serves as the secretary of the Board of Directors of the Pregnancy Support Center of Southside Virginia. Of her work on the board, Melody Bradshaw, treasurer of the organization, said, “Susan has proven to be a valuable team player and has made significant contributions to our efforts in revising policies, initiating new programs and maintaining accurate administrative records.”

Carden’s professional career began with an internship in the Corporate Marketing Division of United Virginia Bank (now SunTrust Bank) during her senior year at VCU. Impressed with her skills and abilities, the head of the corporate promotion department created a position so she could remain with the bank at the conclusion of her internship. When she left the bank after the birth of her first child, Carden had risen through the ranks to the position of Assistant Vice President of Retail Marketing for the Richmond Banking Division, where she was responsible for all marketing activities for the bank’s 16 branches in Richmond and the Tri-Cities.

Carden, the daughter of Herbert and the late Nancy Goodman, is married to David Carden, and is the mother of Elizabeth Mitchell of San Jose, California, and Porter Carden of Chesterfield.

Visit www.cardenforclerk.com for additional information about the candidate.