To the Editor:

I have been a manager for many, many years. Over 25 years.

I have had the responsibility of hiring hundreds and hundreds of staff at all levels in the organizations I’ve worked for.

Not once, not even at the county where I currently work, did I ask a candidate to which political party they belonged. What I have asked and will continue to ask is what qualifications you have that make you the best choice for the job.

Also, I have never removed a staff member who was delivering top notch work with such quality, accuracy, compassion and intensity as was characteristic of Mary Lou Rupp before she was removed as County Clerk.

With that being said, let’s discuss hiring a new County Clerk. Mary Lou Rupp has, overwhelmingly, the best qualifications for this post.

She’s a working manager. The position requires a working manager. She has owned and operated a business and understands what is necessary to maintain a viable business in such difficult financial times. The County Clerk must have these same managerial skills.

Mary Lou Rupp knows that a supervisor must be present to properly supervise and train staff in order that a business may run successfully. The County Clerk must be present at both the main office and as part of the duties as County Clerk must also be a manager and be present at the Department of Motor Vehicles, not only in Canton, but also all satellite offices. Mary Lou Rupp has successfully managed both of these crucial areas.

Mary Lou has had to develop budgets for her Jreck Subs chain as well as her sandwich business. Mary Lou knows these budgets are the lifeblood of her operations.

With good budgets, you achieve great financial controls and success. You’re aware where your money is spent and where your revenues are generated.

We need Mary Lou Rupp to be St. Lawrence County Clerk. We need someone who knows where the money is spent and where revenues can be achieved.

Don’t be fooled. Mary Lou Rupp started as County Clerk in January and was very successful until the Governor decided to remove Mary Lou for political reasons.

This was not a business strategy for St. Lawrence County.

We need to go back to running the County Clerk’s office as a business not as a political spring board.

Elect the person with the qualifications to do the job. Elect Mary Lou Rupp!

Robert Santamoor

Canton