To the Editor:

It has been a long tie since we have had a County Clerk with the educational background and relevant work experience that makes Gavin Regan so effective.

After earning a degree in Business and Accounting from Norwich University, he worked in Banking and Finance for over 20 years.

An effective County Clerk also has to have exceptional organizational skills and be very detail oriented; these are qualities he sharpened as the General Manager of the USA Women’s Olympic Hockey Team in Torino, Italy and at numerous World Games in Europe where all details for transport, lodging, meals, scheduling, and interpreters were his responsibility.

He has used these experiences to benefit the people of St. Lawrence County.

Mr. Regan has increased revenues substantially from last year, by visiting New York City and renewing ties with car dealers who used to do business with the DMV and had fallen away; he also added several new car dealers to those who work with our County.

This effort increased his department’s revenue stream. Gavin has also saved the County over $50,000 by only having one deputy clerk, instead of the two allowed by law; he has chosen to be a “hands on clerk”, often being behind the counter waiting on people himself.

Democrat Regan, and his Republican Deputy, Cathy Streeter, have worked so well together that in next year’s budget, Mr. Regan has chosen to, again, have only one deputy, saving another $50,000, plus benefits, for the county!

More savings have accrued by his decision to bill accounts electronically, thus saving hundreds of dollars in postage and paper.

His decision to return registrations to NYC dealers within three days, instead of overnight, has cut down on many hours of expensive over-time pay. Not one dealer has complained about what is still a quick turn-around.

A good leader also has to be creative, and County Clerk Regan has shown this quality by his creation of an “Office on the Move” that will go to 10 or more people who need passports, instead of them having to go to Canton.

He is also working on an identification card for honorably discharged veterans that may be used to discount purchases from businesses who are willing to participate in a venture that honors our military.

These are reasons that I will pull the lever for Gavin Regan on November 8th. St. Lawrence County needs him!

Josie Catanzarite, Massena