Three candidates are running for the Linn County clerk’s office.
They include 16-year incumbent Steve Druckenmiller and challengers Patty Seleen of Sweet Home and Kenny Davidson of Albany.
Druckenmiller points to his experience in the position.
“I’ve been doing this for 19 years,” Druckenmiller siad. He has been clerk for about 16 and was elections supervisor for three years prior to that. He has overseen more than 100 elections. “Truly what I think this is about is competency and experience.
Druckenmiller holds bachaleor’s degree and a law degree from Suffolk University.
He moved to Oregon and went to work as a property analyst in the county assessor’s office. He later worked for a title company for two years then in Linn County records.
After running for commissioner and losing in the primary, Druckenmiller was appointed to commissioner after another commissioner was recalled. He served as a commissioner for seven months.
Druckenmiller counts a number of achievements during his tenure in office. Among them, Linn County has been on the cutting edge in voter registration.
“We werre the first county in Oregon where we inserted registration cards in the newspaper,” Druckenmiller said, though the need for it has changed with new voter registration laws, including the use of the Division of Motor Vehicles.
In addition, the new 50 percent turnout requirement for tax measures requires clerks to keep voter rolls up to date and accurate.
In 1987, under Druckenmiller’s leadership, the county opened satellite clerks offices around the county, where persons could get marriage licenses and registration forms. The office in Sweet Home has since closed, but an office remains open in Lebanon.
Linn County has had drop sites for ballots around the county for years, Druckenmiller said. Now, it’s the law with mail-in elections.
“I love what I do,” Druckenmiller said. “I appreciate the opportunity the people of this county have given me over the years. I’ve raised my family here. I have done my very besst by the elections system in this county.”
One of the most telling things is the accuracy of Linn County elections, Druckenmiller said. The most a vote has changed in Linn County is six votes on a recount. The last primary had no changes on any recounts.
Seleen, the daughter of County Commissioner Cliff Wooten, grew up in Scio. She moved to Sweet Home 13 years ago. She holds an associate’s degree in applied science.
Seleen went to work for Linn County in records in October 1999. She moved to elections to fill an opening about a year later. Last year, she left the clerk’s office after a disagreement, which goes to arbitration later this month, with Druckenmiller.
The clerk’s position should be appointed and overseen by the commissioners, Seleen said. The clerk is not accountable to anyone but voters and “when no one runs against you, you’re back in.”
It’s time to make the person in that position accountable, Seleen said. “Even though I’m elected, I will follow our county ethics code.
“I have the experience and a will be a servant to the county. There’s so many things I’d like to do to that office.”
She listed more than 20 ideas out when she decided to file for the position.
She wants to make the office an equal-opportunity employer, provide more detailed information on the website, make hours more convenient for recording and make the office handicap accessible.
“When I looke back, I loved my job,” Seleen said. “I gave 110 percent.”
“The best part of my job was the people,” Seleen said. “If I’m elected, I want to be a servant to the people.”
Instead of telling persons, “I’m sorry, you’ll have to come back,” after 4 p.m. or because the right person is not there, she wants to cross train everyone in the office, so they can help the public with whatever it needs. Job manuals for each position and procedure will be available, so everyone in the office knows how to handle different procedures.
“There’s going to be someone there to help them,” Seleen said. “I think the friendly environment could be imrpoved. To me, just because you’re having a bad day, you leave it outide that door.…
“I want to bend over backward. I want that office to bend over backward for the county. It is instilled in us kids (by Commissioner Wooten), you work hard.… My main goal is to make a change for the positive. I feel I am very well qualified for it.”
Davidson grew up in Eugene and Albany. He graduated from West Albany High School in 1982 and attended Linn-Benton Community College before entering the Army in 1986. He was discharged as a sergeant in 1998 as part of a retirement buyout.
“In the Army, you’re in a very controlled environment,” Davidson said. “A lot of people take what they do on a daily basis for granted.”
Outside the Army, he can say what he wants and be involved. Thought not pro-smoking, he can speak out against the smoking bans because they violate property owners’ rights to choice in consumerism and capitalism.
“I had a lot of rights taken away by my choice,” Davidson said. Outside the Army, “I don’t want to see more taken away,” so he is getting involved in the political process.
“I was approached by several people who thought Mr. Druckenmiller has not done a stellar job,” Davidson said. The clerk is nothing like a commissioner or representative. The position should not be controversial, referring to Seleen and Druckenmiller’s argument last year. The clerk “should go about business.”
The people who suggested Davidson run thought for that reason that Druckenmiller should be replaced and that it should not be by a “disgruntled former employee.”
Davidson would like to increase voting participation among younger people, he said. He has served at state functions with the Democrats, and at 37 years old, he was the youngest involved. As clerk, Davidson would like to visit high schools and promote participation in voting.
Davidson doesn’t see anyone in public office telling youths they’re paying taxes and that all it buys them is a single vote.
“I want to be out here to talk to people,” Davidson said. “I am an Army veteran. I’ve got a fresh start on this. I’m not a professional politictian, and I’d like to bring some dignity back into this office.”
Davidson has experience managing at Target Distribution Center. He also has worked at Premier Distributors.
“I was in the Army (in personnel) for 12 years,” Davidson said. “We did records. We did birth certificates and statistical reporting. Everything I’ve done for the 12 years directly related to the experience needed.
“The biggest thing is I will be completely accessible to the public,” as much as possible, he said. He will maintain an open-door policy.
He also stressed the importance of cross training in the office.