My opponent recently published an advertisement describing himself as “Deputy Clerk” and saying he is the only candidate with the firsthand knowledge required to lead the Clerk’s Office.

Voters deserve to understand an important distinction.

He is not the Chief Deputy Clerk.

The Chief Deputy Clerk is the senior appointed leadership position in the office. “Deputy Clerk” is not the same title or role and is a designation used throughout the Clerk’s Office.

My opponent has spent three years in the Clerk’s Office, and his actual position is Clerk’s Judicial Proceedings Specialist.

That is valuable experience. I respect his work and the important work performed by Clerk’s Office employees every day.

But experience performing Clerk’s Office tasks and experience leading an organization are not the same thing.

The elected County Clerk is responsible for leading the entire office—its employees, budget, policies, partnerships, organizational change, and service to the public.

I have spent more than 30 years working in complex public systems, leading people and programs, developing policy, training and supporting staff, navigating change, and bringing people together to solve difficult problems.

I respect institutional knowledge, and I believe good leaders listen closely to the people doing the work. I intend to do exactly that as Clerk.

But this election is about more than knowing the current process. It is about who has the experience to lead an organization through change, make difficult decisions, support employees, manage resources, and ensure the public can depend on the office.

Voters deserve to know what experience each candidate actually brings to the job.

I’m proud of mine.