Candidates for contested county seats were available to answer questions and explain their qualifications Tuesday night at the Candidate Forum sponsored by the Randolph County League of Women Voters.

Dorinda Dameron, Democrat; and Will Ellis, Republican are seeking the position of Randolph County Clerk. Both expressed their years of business experience and community involvement. Dameron noted she has worked several years on a part-time basis with the county collector and the county assessor, both offices which report back to the county clerk. Therefore, she not only has an ongoing relationship with the staff there but she also has experience with the daily workings of the office. Ellis said in preparing for the position, he has studied the state statutes pertaining to the duties of the clerk’s office, the Sunshine Law and other applicable laws and regulations. He observed the election equipment being test prior to the primary election. Ellis and Dameron have both attended judges’ training.

A member of the audience, Ron Self, asked if the candidates were considering plans to change personnel.

“There is always room for improvement,” said Ellis. “Id like to see some changes. I think the office would benefit from cross training. The ladies working there are full of knowledge and I look forward to working with them and keeping them.”

Dameron said she agreed about the vast knowledge the current office employees have and hopes to make use of that knowledge.

“I do not see any changes coming about there (in regards to personnel).”

Jan Peterson, an audience member, asked the candidates of their top priorities once elected as county clerk.

Dameron said voting is a top priority and working on the budget is very important.

“I believe it is very important to work on the budget and for our citizens to understand it better,” she said.

“My top priority is to go over the budget which must be finished December 31,” said Ellis. “My other top priority would be having a meeting with the young ladies in the department and making sure I can fit in as a tem member.”

The candidates were asked a League question regarding technology.

“Technology is very important, especially when it comes to records,” said Ellis. “I am diverse in Word, spreadsheets. I got some insight from the gentleman who handles technology. There is room for improvement.”

“I am open to new technology,” said Dameron. “First I would need to assess what they have and talk to the other elected officials to see if we could find something we could grow with.”

Dameron pointed out she worked 20 years at North Village Park at a time when computers and technology were developing. She was in charge of teaching, not only the nurses at the local facility, but also at other facilities in the area as well.

Incumbent Mark Price, Democrat, faced off against his opponent Anthony Morgan, Libertarian, in the race of Recorder of Deeds. This was a match up of experience in the office versus a person eager to get his feet wet in the political arena.

“I am for limited government, not the tyrannical presidency and I think change has to start at the local level,” said Morgan.

Price who has many years in the office as recorder, explained he introduced technology to the recorder’s office and must work with all the other officials in the courthouse in the course of the job. He noted that a small part of each fee assessed when recording a deed, a marriage license, etc. goes towards the preservation of records.

When asked of their greatest challenge if elected, Price said, “More space. The vaults are overflowing. We need to make office space. There are books falling and it could be dangerous.”

Morgan said his biggest challenge would be learning the job.

“I’m sure there’s a file,” said Morgan. “I’ll make sure they’re organized.”

Morgan who served in the Navy and now works in the shipping department at Orscheln’s said he should be elected because “the Navy entrusted me with million dollar equipment and I have an associate’s degree in business.”

“It has been a wonderful experience,” said price, “and I want to continue doing that. Go out and vote!”

Incumbent Becky Brown, Democrat; and Penny Henry, Republican, answered questions regarding the county treasurer’s seat Tuesday night.

Brown has served as treasurer for 12 years. She grew up working in the family business – her father is the late Simeon Truesdell, a well know auctioneer in the area, and Brown did the bookkeeping there.

Henry has 10 years experience working in real estate and she is in charge of the 25 accounts at her church, Timber Lake Christian Church.

“I look forward to getting the bank statements in the mail, I love to reconcile bank statements,” said Henry.

Brown said the treasurer receives and distributes public funds and keeps proper book. She said in 2009, $27 million went through her office with $16 million going to schools. In all, there are 16 accounts that must be handled.

Brown said updating computer technology is something that has been put on the back burner because of the tight budgets in the last few years. Her office has gone from no computerization when she took office in 1999 to an antiquated stand alone computer.

“I would love to see a system that links the treasurer’s office to the clerk’s office so monies could be correlated into the right funds.”

Henry said her church had used a manual system of record keeping and she knew how difficult it could be without updated technology

In regards to changes, Henry said she wants to make the office more efficient and would look for ways to help in other parts of the courthouse, as well.

“I am a team player and I want to make the office as efficient and accurate as it needs to be,” said Henry.

“We have a long wish list,” said Brown. “We are trying to keep things current on the computers. Checks won’t be sent in the mail, we’re working on direct deposit. I am working on email alerts to make things quicker and more cost efficient.”

Mike Fusselman, Republican, has served as Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney for 20 years. He often runs unopposed as he did this year until his former assistant prosecutor, Stephanie Luntsford, gathered signatures to be placed on the ballot as an Independent.

The position will become full-time January 1. When asked how the workload would be prioritized once it goes full-time, Luntsford said she did not think priorities would change that much. However, it would allow the prosecutor to devote full-time attention to the caseload, no longer being diverted by a private law practice. She said it would allow for more time to review reports and prosecute more efficiently.

Fusselman said going full-time would allow him to dig deeper into child abuse and neglect cases, would allow him to receive more training and “really invest myself”.

The candidates were asked about working with other law enforcement agencies such as the sheriff’s department, highway patrol, police department, and probation and parole. Luntsford said she would work with the ones in the field, teach them more about the law and provide training.

Fusselman said he has a strong working relationship with law enforcement. He explained the prosecutor’s office now has email discovery. Officers can scan traffic tickets and other reports then email discovery. Fusselman said it saves paper, there are no lost pages, it saves on man hours spent reproducing the paperwork and it makes the office much more efficient. The email also allows for better communication with officers, he said.  If, for example, a person has conditions on their probation/parole, law enforcement can use an email summary to learn if that person is in violation.

In closing, Fusselman said in his 20 years as prosecutor, he has not just prosecuted crime but he has helped reduce it.

“We have made Randolph County a safer place to live,” said Fusselman. “Here’s where we’re going to make a difference.”

Luntsford said, “Give serious thought to where the county has been and where you want it to go. I may have a feminine exterior, a softer voice so some folks feel it would make me too soft. I’m not soft on crime. My number one priority is to aggressively prosecute crime.”