My speech from tonights forum in Alluwe! Let me start off by saying that I want to be Nowata’s next elected County Clerk. Being a County Clerk to me is someone who is driven to do an excellent job, proving every day, that this is an amazing opportunity and it is not being wasted. I want my children to be proud of the job that their mother does. This is my community and I am in this for the long haul. God willing an opportunity that I will be able to continue, given the chance to prove myself until I am ready to retire. I am inspired by the fact that Teresa Jackson herself was elected in at the age of 31 and she held a long career. I would like to point out that I am aware that there are many aspects of the job that are state regulated. However, there are areas that have room for improvement. We as a County cannot be afraid to try new things on one hand, and then on the other hand say that we want to grow The County. For example, offering direct deposit cannot be considered a campaign promise when all the surrounding counties already offer this benefit to their employees. Why is this? Because, it offers benefits to not only the employee, but the employers as well. This is why the State of Oklahoma has went to a complete direct deposit method of payment. IT SAVES TIME & MONEY. I am suggesting that we try to catch up with the days and times we are in. Paying employees more than once a month is not a campaign promise, it is effective leadership. I have spoken to so many of the employees, and this is the subject it goes right back to. How hard it is to make what paychecks they do make last a whole month. We cannot pay them what they are worth to us as a County, but we can lessen the burden and stress making for happier more productive employees. Many of the officials have also pointed out how stressful it is trying to find employees that are willing to sign on for once a month pay. I have provided paperwork at each of the tables showing the benefits of changing from a monthly pay schedule to a bi-weekly pay schedule. As you can see from just a fraction of my research. Everything says this will not only have benefits to the employees, but just as many for the employer as well. Cutting costs as well as cutting workload on the payroll staff. We were told in the last forum that this would require hiring a new person to accomplish this goal, this simply is not true. We as a County cannot afford to turn away from an idea without considering all of our options. Any chance an office has to cut cost of operation, we should take a good long hard look at it. Hiring new staff isn’t even an option, I have seen the budget. Yes, it may require learning to do something a new way, but if it has benefits for both our employees and our County, we shouldn’t run away from it. I am and will continue to do the research required to offer ideas that might improve how the County Clerk’s office is run. This includes continuing to attend the County commissioners and city meetings for all of Nowata County. Keeping up with all the laws and statues that regulate how we effectively conduct business in this office. Finding areas that need improvement, for example: Being a full time County Clerk. It was mentioned during our last forum that several of the officials had more than one job. This is not true, what is true is that many of them volunteer their time, but do not have full time second jobs and none of them have done these from their offices. What I have heard is frustration from many of the people that are directly impacted by the problems that have resulted over this last year. Many of our Officials pride themselves in their jobs and when issues arise, I can see why this would be frustrating. The Treasurer’s office can only work with the information that is given. Each Official is responsible for notifying them if a direct deposit is made on the behalf of their office. There is no acceptable reason that the Treasurer be notified of a deposit in the wrong fiscal year. I might add that this goes against the laws associated with the Oklahoma State Auditor’s Office. This was school money. The problem was eventually fixed, but it was not without frustrations. We all remember that they levies for the county were filed late last year causing the property taxes to be collected late this year. The excuse was that the County Clerk’s office was waiting on Washington County. After a little digging, I have spoken several times with the Washington County Clerk’s office and that simply was not true. It could be blamed on inexperience, but several County Clerks have stated that they offered help but they were turned down. These are resources that I will not so quickly turn down. Part of being an effective leader is the ability to recognize a resource and utilizing that resource. I will run my office diligently, meeting deadlines and making sure that everyone in my office including myself pulls their own weight. Each and every one of us will strive to offer friendly and efficient customer service. The business management skills that I have acquired in the class and on the job, which includes managing several locations at one time, has taught me one major rule of thumb. You must show up to and set the example in order to be an effective leader. You are a part of something great, just delegating, is not enough. As you can see, I am not offering campaign promises. I am offering a plan of action that I believe will improve the services that you are currently receiving. I have enjoyed every moment of this experience, being your candidate for County Clerk, meeting so many of the amazing people in this great county. I will continue to volunteer throughout the community as well. This is my home and I just want the opportunity to make a difference. While I have yet to make a campaign promise, here is one that you can take to the bank. Give me a chance and I will put everything that I have into being a great full time County Clerk. I just ask for that chance to try. To all those that have supported and loved me through this process, I cannot thank you enough. Come Nov. 4th I am asking for your vote. Until then I am asking you to spread the word. Vote Wishall for County Clerk.
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 02:51:39 +0000
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