What is the role of the Town Clerk?
The Town Clerk is the custodian of official records, responsible for a wide range of activities that serve the Town Council, Town employees, and residents. The Town Clerk attends and records minutes of official Town Council meetings; accurately files official notices as required by law; issues hunting, fishing and dog licenses; issues and records marriage, birth and death certificates; issues recycling permits; supervises elections; schedules use of town park and town hall facilities; and is usually the first person visitors to Town Hall see. The Clerk also manages the Clerk's office, supervises employees, sets official hours of operation, and develops and manages the budget.

How do issues facing the community affect the Town Clerk's position?
The Town Clerk attends and keeps official records of all Town Board meetings, and is responsible for keeping the public informed about Town government issues through notices in local newspapers, the minutes, and posting notices in Town Hall as prescribed by law. I also want to make greater use of the Town website to inform the public.
Currently, the controversy over the type of voting machines that towns will use starting in 2006 will affect the Town Clerk's office. The Clerk traditionally has been charged with oversight of elections, a role that is now being transferred to the County by state mandate.
It is important for the Clerk to remain engaged with County officials during and after this transition in order to ensure secure and free elections and to control costs.

What sort of training should a Town Clerk have ?
In the months following the local elections, newly elected Town Clerks from throughout the state can attend seminars sponsored by state professional organizations. These trainings reinforce the knowledge required of records management, the Freedom of Information Laws, keeping and posting minutes, and laws relating to the filing of all certificates and other official papers of the Town. As regulations and requirements change, the Town Clerk stays abreast of current information through bulletins and other sources.

What is the most important thing the Town Clerk does?
The most important responsibility under the law of the Town Clerk is the careful and accurate recording and archiving of official documents. Accuracy ensures the integrity of Town Board decisions and of the permanent records of residents of the Town, such as marriage licenses and birth and death certificates. However, it is also important that the Town Clerk's office support all of the other functions and offices of Town government, and be a friendly, efficient, helpful source of assistance for all Town residents.

Why should voters vote for you?
I am asking Red Hook and Tivoli residents to vote for me because I am the candidate with the greatest scope of relevant experience, and I have a passion for serving my community in a friendly, professional and highly competent manner.

My credentials include:

Financial Management -- I have developed and maintained departmental budgets of more than $750,000 a year at several colleges and schools, including Cornell University, Colorado State University, Bryant College, and in Red Hook, Church Street Nursery School and the Town of Red Hook's Summer Language Institute for children.

Supervision of staff -- My collaborative management style has worked effectively in supervising staffs of one to 100 people. As director of volunteer services at Northern Dutchess Hospital, I supervised all the activities and assignments of more than 200 volunteer workers.

Administration -- I have used information technology and other tools effectively for years to organize and efficiently manage office operations such as bookkeeping, assigning volunteers, employment records, program management, and communications.

Written Communication -- I have written policy manuals, recorded minutes of management meetings, drafted press releases, and completely wrote the comprehensive safety plan for the Town's summer language program.

Customer Service -- Each position that I have held as a professional employee or as a volunteer has taught me something about the importance of serving the public. I know that a friendly and welcoming attitude, combined with a highly efficient operation, will make it easier for residents to do business with the Town.