VOTE411 Voter Guide

I am running for Mercer County Clerk because I believe residents deserve an office that is both efficient and trustworthy one that protects our records, ensures fair elections, and provides excellent service to the community. My background in criminal justice, business, consulting, and community advocacy has prepared me to bring integrity and accountability to this role. With a foundation in criminal justice, I understand the importance of fairness, due process, and safeguarding public trust. That training taught me how to analyze procedures carefully, protect the rights of all people, and uphold systems of accountability values that are essential in the Clerk’s office. As a business owner and consultant, I’ve managed budgets, worked with diverse clients, and solved complex problems with creativity and precision. Running a business requires organization, attention to detail, and the ability to deliver results on time exactly the skills needed to manage the Clerk’s responsibilities, from passports to land records. Consulting work further sharpened my ability to assess processes to identify weaknesses, and provide practical solutions.

Through community leadership, I have organized town halls, worked alongside residents to address housing and resource needs, and spoken out for greater government transparency. I also have hands-on experience with Mercer County’s election process, giving me practical insight into how elections are conducted and how they can be improved.

Together, these experiences have given me a strong balance of administrative skill, professional leadership, and community vision. I am committed to restoring confidence in the Mercer County Clerk’s office and making sure every resident can access their records and elections with confidence.

1. Election Transparency and Security: Some procedures, like ballot draws and vote-by-mail handling, could be more open to public oversight. I would implement video recording of ballot draws, ensure full compliance with Title 19, and strengthen chain-of-custody procedures to maintain confidence in election results. 2. Records Access: Residents often face delays or difficulty accessing land records, marriage licenses, and passports. I would modernize record management, expand digital access, and simplify procedures so documents are easier and faster to obtain. 3. Customer Service: Staff training and public engagement can be improved. I would focus on professionalism, communication, and problem-solving, so every resident feels respected and supported.

As Clerk of Elections, I support measures that make elections in Mercer County secure, transparent, and trusted: Video recording of ballot draws to ensure fairness and public confidence. Full compliance with New Jersey Title 19 laws, which govern all election procedures, including ballot handling and certification. Clear communication and voter information, so residents understand deadlines, vote-by-mail options, and polling locations. Strong chain-of-custody and staff training, to protect ballots and ensure professional, accurate administration. Bipartisan oversight of election procedures, ensuring all parties can observe and verify processes. Public access to election data and audit results, so residents can verify that procedures are followed and results are accurate. These measures will help Mercer County run elections that are accurate, transparent, and respected by the public.

Audit ballots and procedures to make sure every vote is counted correctly. Use bipartisan oversight so all parties can observe and verify the process. Work with authorities if any misconduct or legal violations are found. Communicate clearly with the public about what is being done and the results. Implement improvements to prevent future problems, including better staff training and stronger security measures.

I am running for re-election for County Clerk with great enthusiasm as I believe that voting rights are under attack. There are many initiatives and policies that are limiting voter participation, and I believe this is the time to fight to make sure that every voice is heard. Recent initiatives seek to restrict or limit voter participation by imposing REAL ID requirements on voters, requiring voter names to match their birth certificates. And, recent orders seek to eliminate vote-by-mail altogether. I would oppose any policy that restricts the ability to vote. As a former leader of NJ's County Clerks, I believe I am well qualified to continue to serve as Mercer County Clerk and fight against these suppression efforts. My qualifications are based on my education as an attorney and my years working a government administrator. I was the First Executive Director of the NJ School Ethics Commission, an attorney in the Department of Education and an Assistant County Counsel. But my best preparation for this role are my previous years of experience and strong accomplishments as Mercer County Clerk. As County Clerk, I have expanded Mercer County’s vote by mail list to over 45,000 voters, one of the highest percentages in the State. I promised and delivered on our County's purchase of a verified voting system, as we purchased voting machines with a paper trail for auditing purposes. I have also expanded outreach services for passports and Veteran IDs by opening a satellte office in Hamilton Township and bringing our passport service days to the various municipalities in Mercer County. Further, I have eliminated backlogs in property recording and implemented online property search systems. I have scanned back most property records in the County Clerk's Office. Most importantly, I have educated the public in multiple languages about all of my Office's services so that everyone can vote, or learn about the availability of government services we offer.

There is always room to change and improve, even after many years of positive progress. One thing I would like to continue is the back scanning of all property records into our computer search system so that all properties can be researched online. Presently, I have scanned all deeds and mortgages back to 1838, the year of inception of our County, but there are other property records that need to be scanned and this is a priority of mine. Also, I wish to expand my Veteran ID program so that Veterans can obtain their ID in our Hamilton Office location, and not just in our Trenton Office. I feel we owe a debt of gratitude to our veterans and if I can make it easier for them to access the government services my office provides, I will do so. Lastly, I want to reach deeper into the growing Asian community in Mercer County to spread election and passport information. I have visited the Chinese School in West Windsor/Plainsboro and the BAPS Temple in Robbinsville to educate voters about voting options, and I have prepared voting brochures in many languages. But, I am seeking to go further with this information and reach more voters through educational brochures, cable ads and radio.

It is very important to me that security protocols are followed and continuously checked. As County Clerk, I work with State and Federal homeland security to protect our current voting systems. My Office follows all of their recommendations and we avail ourselves of their training. None of our computer systems are online or interface with the internet at any point, in compliance with NJ law. Further, my office tests and re-tests all systems to make sure that they work well and run properly. We also work closely with the State Division of Elections in their training exercises to make sure that we follow all protocols and procedures to protect the vote. Any other voting materials and ballots which are maintained in my office are locked up in safes. It is very important to me that security protocols are followed and routinely reviewed.

It is important that the voting public has confidence in the integrity of an election, so I would address all questions from the public and answer each as fully as possible. It is also helpful to provide information and all corresponding documentation publicly available to explain questions. I have received election questions in the past, having administered well over 50 elections as Mercer County Clerk. I have always been forthcoming with information and responses so that voters know that my office, and the other two County election offices, are here to provide them information with transparency and honesty. I have and would continue to attend public meetings, write op-eds, respond to reporters and answered voter questions. I feel it is best to disclose all of our processes and procedures in voting to work to instill confidence in the voting public.