New Oneida County clerk to be chosen

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

Wisconsin’s Partisan Primary will be held Tuesday, Aug. 9. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters will be allowed to vote in either the Republican or the Democratic primary. There are several contested races in the Northwoods.

In Oneida County, both candidates running for County Clerk are on the Republican ballot. With no Democratic challengers, the winner of the primary, will be the next Oneida County clerk. The Star Journal asked both candidates a few questions about their ideas and qualifications for the job.

Tracy Hartman

What led to your decision to run for county clerk?
I have been the clerk for the town of Crescent for the last nine years and love every aspect of the job. With the impending retirement of Mary Bartelt and all of my children in school, I decided to run for county clerk. I’m looking for more of a challenge. I believe assisting 21 county supervisors will fulfill this desire. The position will allow me to do the job that I love and in a full-time capacity.

Why do you believe you are qualified for the position?
I have been the Crescent clerk for nine years. The county clerk’s office and cown clerks’ offices overlap each other in many areas. As the Crescent clerk, I have completed all aspects of the election process. I also work closely with the town board and complete all necessary agendas, minutes and postings. One of the main functions of a clerk is to be the first contact for residents. Crescent residents have re-elected me for five terms because they know that they are going to be treated professionally, respectfully and courteously. I have also been in charge of organizing the budget and keeping track of the line items.

I think I am much better prepared than my opponent because I have the budgeting experience, more time clerking meetings, and have worked many more elections than her. Being new to the office will allow for new ideas and I plan to look at all aspects of the office and make positive changes.

I have also been highly involved with the community. I volunteer my time with the Rhinelander Scholarship Foundation, The Rhinelander Wrestling Club, Rhinelander Pop Warner, and as a classroom aide in the Rhinelander Schools.
I am endorsed by the Oneida County Republican Party.

What difference would your election have on how the county clerk’s office is run?
I have several changes that I would make as soon as I get into office. The biggest change will be to cut the budget by at least $35,000. I will accomplish this by not taking the county’s health insurance and cutting the third full-time position back to a part-time position. This is the perfect opportunity to do this because of the impending retirements within the office. This will be an over 12 percent cut. All the county departments have been asked to find ways to cut money for the county’s overall budget and this is how I would contribute to that effort.
Secondly, I will work with the county’s schools to come up with a way to teach our youth about the election process. I have a desire to help our students learn the importance of voting and becoming involved with our representative government.
The county clerk needs to serve the town clerks and assist them with whatever they need. I will improve the communication and teamwork between the county and towns to ultimately make both of them stronger.

What do you believe are the key issues or programs for the county clerk to deal with over the next four years?
The biggest issue that the county faces every year is maintaining a balanced budget. I have already thought of ways to cut the clerk’s budget as I described above. Once elected, I will look closer at the insurance costs and the operations. I am sure once I do this, I will be able to add further savings ideas from a fresh perspective.

As the Oneida County clerk, I would like to implement a round table with the town clerks at least four times per year. Because elections are a large part of any clerk’s position, I believe the county clerk needs to facilitate an open dialogue, foster open communication, and provide some training opportunities that will ultimately enhance the election process for everyone. I would organize the meetings and would be open to the needs of the town clerks.

How long (how many terms) would you like to serve as the county clerk?

I see myself finishing out my career at the Oneida County clerk’s office and serving the residents of Oneida County for the next 20 years or for as long as the voters will allow me to serve.

Kerri Ison

What led to your decision to run for county clerk?
I have been working toward this position since the beginning of my county government service with Lincoln County 21 years ago, accepting a position with the Oneida County UW-Extension office in 1998. Two years ago I was given the opportunity to become the deputy clerk /election specialist in the Oneida County clerk’s office. Once I learned of the current County clerk’s intention to retire, I knew the time was right to seek this elected position.

Why do you believe you are qualified for the position?
I have been working for Oneida County for over 18 years and in that time I have learned federal, state and county government procedures, the county budget process and all of the services County departments provide. Over the past two years, I have been training for the role of County Clerk.

Typically the County clerk’s office is the first point of contact for visitors to the Courthouse, whether it is in person, e-mail or by telephone. I have courteously greeted these visitors with a smile and willingness to listen to their needs and concerns and direct them to the appropriate department or services they need. My experience from working at the UW-Extension office helped me to direct visitors to outside agencies if necessary.

I am knowledgeable in the election process; developing ballot layout and x-chart certificates, sample ballots and legal notices for publication. I provide the vendor with information to program election media as well as order and distribute ballots in a timely manner. I am certified in the WisVote voter registration system, absentee ballot tracking process, recording of votes and the county board of canvass. I have a working relationship with the clerks and provide election services to 13 town reliers, which includes voter registration, providing election supplies, printing of poll books and recording of votes.

In addition, I have a working relationship with the county board supervisors, county department heads and employees. I am adept at posting agendas, recording minutes, preparation and recording resolutions/ordinance amendments, posting of legal notices and providing support to the County Board and various committees. I am the current secretary to the Administration Committee and have participated in the county budget hearings for five years.

I am knowledgeable in processing insurance claims for the county– working with departments, insurance companies and vendors throughout the process. Keep an updated list of buildings, contents, property in the open, contractor’s equipment and vehicles.

I have assisted in the development of the Oneida County directory and provide updates to the county website.

I am experienced in the issuance of quit claim deeds, timber cutting permits, and transient merchant permits as well as responding to open records requests. I am a notarial officer and certified to issue marriage licenses.

What difference would your election have on how the county clerk’s office is run?
As Oneida County clerk I would like files/records to be kept electronically, cutting down of printing/paper costs as well as storage space. At this time I do not have any plans to change staffing levels or change the level of services we provide. This includes providing voter registration/election services to 13 relier townships. This may change in the future based on the demands of state mandates. I would expect staff to provide the same courteous and professional services that are offered at the current time.

What do you believe are the key issues or programs for the county clerk to deal with over the next four years?
The first and foremost issue will be training and working with new staff members as the chief deputy clerk will also be retiring at the end of 2016. The amount of knowledge leaving the office at the end of the year is immeasurable.

I believe there will be many changes regarding elections over the next four years. Federal and state mandates for voter registration, absentee tracking and reporting will continue to change and it will be the job of the County clerk and town clerks to educate voters on these changes to make the voting process smooth. I believe there will also be changes due to the dissolution of the Governmental Accountability Board and the implementation of the Wisconsin Elections Commission and Wisconsin Ethics Commission this past July.

Budget will also be a key issue that the county will continue to address, however most of the services of the county clerk’s office are mandated and must be funded.

The county clerk will also need to assist in finding ways to increase safety awareness through the risk management team. Worker’s compensation premiums have continued to increase due to the number and severity of work-related injuries. This is key to keep insurance costs as low as possible.

How long (how many terms) would you like to serve as the county clerk?
I began working in public service in 1991 at the Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce and continue to serve the public today. It gives me great satisfaction to connect people with the services they seek in a knowledgeable and professional manner. I would be proud to serve the constituents of Oneida County as the Oneida County clerk for as many consecutive terms as they wish to elect me into office or until such time that I may retire.

CONTESTED RACES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Wisconsin Assembly District 34
Lawrence Dale (D)
Matthew Michaelson (D)

Wisconsin Assembly District 35
Renea Frederick (D)
Derek Woellner (D)
Erik Pfantz (D)

U.S. Senate
Russ Feingold (D)
Scott Harbach (D)

U.S. Representative District 7
Ethel C. Quisler (D)
Mary Hoeft (D)
Joel Lewis (D)

CONTESTED RACES IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Oneida County Clerk
Tracy Hartman (R)
Kerri Ison (R)

U.S. Representative District 7
Sean Duffy (Inc) (R)
Donald Raihala (R)