By Cathy Spaulding
Phoenix Staff Writer
July 23, 2008 12:06 am
—
Two Democrats seeking to unseat Wagoner County Clerk Carolyn Kusler, a Republican in her first term in office, say they want to make the county clerk’s office more accessible and friendly.
Assistant Wagoner County Jail Administrator Tammy Alsip will face Indigent Defense System Investigator Jack W. Lewis in the Democratic primary Tuesday.
“I talked to a lot of people who want someone different,” Lewis said. “The office could be more open to the public and to the people of Wagoner County.”
Alsip said she wants to assure all the citizens of Wagoner County or anyone who needs the services of the county clerk’s office is treated with a courteous, helpful and friendly attitude.
She said she wants to establish an open-door policy and make sure the office is open the same days and times as the rest of the county courthouse.
“No one will have to come back the next day, even if it is one minute before closing,” she said.
Alsip said she also wants to improve relationships with attorneys and abstract offices, update technology to include records before 1995 and keep the office Web site updated to include agendas and minutes of commissioner meetings.
Lewis said he wants to update technology in the county clerk’s office. He said he wants to put county records that go back to statehood online.
“The office can have a better working relationship with other offices and be more courteous than they are now, be more people-oriented with an open-door policy,” Lewis said.
Lewis said one of his assets is working with people. He also cited his education and work experience as qualifications.
“I have been a school teacher, a coach, a funeral director and embalmer at Mallett Funeral Home,” he said.
Alsip said she has more than seven years’ experience working at the Wagoner County Courthouse and worked with every county office in the building.
“I have firsthand knowledge of the policies, the problems and most importantly, the people that make our county work,” she said.
Meet the candidates
NAME: Tammy Alsip.
OFFICE SOUGHT: Wagoner County Clerk.
AGE: 39.
PARTY: Democrat.
HOMETOWN: Yukon; moved to Wagoner County, Flatrock area, in 1995.
FAMILY: Married, four children.
OCCUPATION: Assistant jail administrator, Wagoner County Jail and CLEET Certified Reserve Deputy for Wagoner County.
EDUCATION: Yukon High School, more than 200 hours of Certified Law Enforcement Education and Training; firefighter academy, numerous firefighter-related schools.
RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE: First Baptist Church, Chouteau.
HOBBIES: Camping, hunting, fishing, “spending time with my family.”
NAME: Jack W. Lewis.
OFFICE SOUGHT: Wagoner County Clerk.
AGE: 64.
POLITICAL PARTY: Democrat.
HOMETOWN: Coweta.
FAMILY: Wife, daughter and son, two grandchildren.
OCCUPATION: Investigator for the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System.
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University; graduate work at Oklahoma State University.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: First Christian Church, Wagoner.
HOBBIES: Golf, fishing, “spending time with my grandsons.”
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