The Clackamas County Clerk oversees Elections and Records Management. Within each category, there are sub-categories of which the clerk is responsible. Let’s break each one down.

🗳️ ELECTIONS

County elections is a very important duty, that must run smoothly, fair, and just. This is no small task, and gets most of the notoriety. The clerk registers voters, designs and mails out ballots, receives them after the people voted, verifies signatures, tallies the results, and reports the totals to the secretary of state for announcement.

Too many people have told me they don’t vote because they feel their vote doesn’t count. They have no faith in Oregon’s elections. A United States poll↗, showed that over 80% of citizens want voter ID to vote, and that is across all political parties, gender, and ethnic groups. We must show ID for most facets of life, except to vote… that is a problem.

We have all seen internet and news reports that voter tabulating machines can be hacked and votes altered to favor a specific candidate. Right here in Clackamas County, Mei Wong and Dana Hindman Allen, 2022 Clackamas County candidates, watched a 4am - 4:30am shift of their vote tallies go to their opponents↗.

Maricopa County, Arizona has been in the news for numerous election violations. Fulton County, Georgia had news clips showing workers pull out many boxes hidden under the tables, to be tabulated through the machines many times, after election observers had been sent home! One news clip talks about voter irregularities in Nevada↗. And, Maduro, the dictator from Venezuela, admitted the voter tabulating machines used in the USA are rigged to favor a certain outcome.

📝 RECORDS MANAGEMENT

A brief overview of Records Management involves Board of Commissioners Recordings, Passport Applications, Marriage Licenses, OLCC licenses in unincorporated Clackamas County, and recording Property Deeds/Transactions.

Data privacy today is a hot topic. Most of the information recorded at the clerk’s office is public record and not subject to privacy laws. Deed and property information is written on card files or on computers, open to the public. This transparency helps ensure all citizens are treated equally and fairly.

WHY I’M RUNNING FOR CLACKAMAS COUNTY CLERK

Studying science (two under-grad university degrees and a doctorate) requires one to be very analytical and a fast learner. Both skills allow one to adapt and integrate into any possible endeavor. I also ran two different dental offices, requiring people management and administrative capabilities.

I have already studied Oregon election laws, the Oregon Revised Statutes. This gives me a head start when dealing with the intricacies of the election process.

Finally, I have the passion, fortitude, and people skills to get results. My management style is to function as a team. By letting all employees voice and share opinions as to how to improve performance, it gives them a sense of on-the-job pride. Ultimately, the final decisions would be mine, but I sincerely value input from the employees. Happy employees perform better, give better service to the public, and want to come to work every day. It is very important in life to enjoy what you do! 😀