I'm really going to do it. I'm running for County Clerk.

Pab Sungenis

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Wed Sep-24-08 02:39 PM
Original message

I'm really going to do it. I'm running for County Clerk.

I spoke with the County Democratic Chairman this afternoon, and it's all but official.

Next year, I go head to head with entrenched Republican Gloria Noto in the race for Cumberland County Clerk.

My main platform points are:

(1) AUTOMATION/MODERNIZATION/ON-LINE-IZATION OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE. In 2009, there is no reason to still be doing so much of the Clerk's work on paper and in person. You can't run a 21st Century Clerk's office with 19th Century technology. Over my five year term it will be my goal to completely automate and computerize the operations in the Clerk's office. This will allow for rapid name, business name, and record searches, reducing the workload in the office drastically. Once sufficient records are available in the computer database, the Clerk's placeholder website will be completely replaced with a modern, interactive one allowing people to access public records electronically from home or work, 24 hours a day, without having to trudge down to the Courthouse and go through security just to get to it. This will also allow people to register and pay for registering a business name on-line, like they can already do at the state level or at the U.S.P.T.O. At the same time, I will work with the other 20 Clerks within the State and the Secretary of State to develop and implement a fully electronic system for the recording and registering of deeds.

How will I pay for this modernization effort in a county already strapped for cash? That brings me to number 2.

(2) SLASH THE CLERK'S SALARY. Next year, Gloria Noto will collect $107,500.00 for what is considered under the law to be a part time job. This kind of pay for a minor public servant is obscene. Not only will I be a full time clerk, I will (as allowed by New Jersey law) give back half my salary to the County, asking that it be added to the budget for modernizing the Clerk's office. Over the years after the modernization effort is completed, the County will stand to benefit from hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of dollars in cost savings through increased efficiency alone, over and above what I will be giving back as Clerk.

(3) FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. As County Clerk, overseeing the elections within the County will be my responsibility. Unlike my opponent, I will not allow politics to enter into my decisions in ballot access and preparation. I will treat all parties fairly and identically in ballot placement. I will fight any efforts to cage voters or wrongfully purge voter lists. And, most importantly, I will NEVER certify ANY election within the County that takes place on black boxes.

Those are the main points. I'm sure some of the other county-wide issues will rear their heads during the race, but I'm concentrating on those three platform planks. Wish me luck.