County Clerk Candidate

Questions & Answers

What is the importance of the County Clerk to your constituents?

Voting is one of our most fundamental rights and protecting the integrity of our elections is the most critical part of the County Clerk’s job. Further, the office maintains records of births, marriages, and deaths. Safely securing those records while maintaining a high level of customer service is likewise important.

I am committed to making these important services available to the public in the most convenient ways possible, but never at the cost of integrity and security and always with the mind toward the best uses of our County tax dollars.

Why are you qualified to be the County Clerk?

First, I am the only person in this race with a track record of actually leading a team in achieving a goal. In my business career, as well as my community activities, I have led efforts to bring about positive change and advancements in organizations. The County Clerk’s office requires that type of leadership.

Second, I am the only candidate with a vision for changes in the office that will improve security and integrity.

Third, I am the only candidate with a record of community engagement. I encourage everyone to look at the videos we have produced that educate and encourage voters about participation in our political process.

What is a key policy difference between you and your Primary Opponent?

I am the only candidate with any proposals to improve the security and integrity of our elections. Further, I am the only candidate with a plan for community engagement. Like the past County Clerks, and our most successful elected County officials, I believe this job is more than just about pushing papers from the inbox to the outbox. It’s about working with people in and out of the office to create positive results for Champaign County.

Is there anything else you would like to say to an undecided voter in Champaign County?

I first ran for office over 20 years and lost. But I didn’t give up serving our community. I worked with groups like CU at Home and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. I led groups like Champaign Rotary West. I was appointed and served for 20 years on the Sheriff’s Merit Commission. Last year I was elected to the County Board. There are so many ways to serve and Champaign County is strongest when concerned citizens get involved in the hundreds of extraordinary local efforts that exist to improve our community.

The Champaign County Clerk’s Office is made up of four components and just because someone is employed within the office to work in one area, does not mean that they provide the right type of leadership to move the rest of the team in a positive direction.

Eight people in the County Clerk's office have more experience than my opponent. Gordy Hulten Mark Shelden and Denny Bing never worked a day in the clerk’s office. The last time the Republican party had a choice for this office, they selected Gordy over someone already in the office. The leadership of the party went outside. They did not select an employee inside that office but rather a person who had a vision for how the office could serve the people. With all due respect, just because a person works in the office, it does not mean that they possess the leadership skills to run the office well.

Thank you for becoming an informed voter and I encourage you to be even more involved.

The local News-Gazette has another questionnaire with both Republican County Clerk candidates.

You can find it: here.

Both Republican candidates for County Clerk participated in a Question and Answers session with the Active Senior Republicans.

Watch the video: here.

Both Republican candidates also did a debate hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Watch that video: here.