To the Editor:

I do not work for the county but for over 10 years I have owned my own business that requires a visit to the County Clerk’s office 4 to 5 days a week.

After Mary Lou Rupp was appointed Deputy County Clerk, I quickly came to realize that she is a very competent and dedicated public official.

Her commitment of service to the residents of St. Lawrence County is evident in everything that she does. No task is too big or too small for her to take on. Mary Lou’s experience as a small business owner, years of working at the DMV and as Deputy County Clerk along with her work ethic makes her, the ONLY candidate with the experience and knowledge to be our next County Clerk.

There should be more consideration in choosing a person for such an important position. It seems the only qualification required is being part of a specific political party.

The State chose a person with no knowledge of either the DMV or the Clerk’s Office. Then within hours of taking office, the newly appointed County Clerk fired, Mary Lou Rupp, the Acting County Clerk at the time.

Mary Lou had extensive working knowledge of both departments. We have to ask ourselves; was that in the best interest of the county? Was it in the best interest of the DMV or the Clerk’s Office? Was it a good business decision?

The newly appointed County Clerk claims that the county is now saving the salary of that deputy position. However, the reality is that the years of knowledge and experience the county lost on that day is priceless.

Although the appointed County Clerk has now been on the job for a few months this short tenure could never replace the many years of hands on experience that Mary Lou already has.

Let’s face it, managing the County Clerk’s Office and the DMV is a very profitable business for the county. Therefore, the County Clerk position requires the kind of knowledge and experience that Mary Lou possesses.

With the economy the way it is, we need to get real and make business decisions not political ones.

Mary Lou Rupp is the right person for the job. She is “our choice” in November for St. Lawrence County Clerk.

Sandy Santamoor, Owner

St. Lawrence County Docket