Town of Dryden Town Clerk, to fill term
Voters in the Town of Danby are being asked to vote for one candidate.One (1) year term; One open seatTompkins County Board of Elections (has Sample Ballots on their website) http://tompkinscountyny.gov/boePhone: (607)-274-5522; 214 West State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850Polling place: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ Town Clerks are responsible for maintaining all the records, books and papers of the town. They attend meetings of the Town Board and keep accurate records of the proceedings and of all adopted propositions. They are also responsible for filing information related to vacancies within town government and communicating with the County Clerk’s office when appropriate. Town Clerk’s offices provide a range of services including issuing licenses; collecting property taxes and other assessments; responding to requests for accessible parking tags, notary public services, and documents through Freedom of Information requests
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Loren Sparling
(Dem)
Why are you running for elected office?
What relevant skills and experience would you bring to this position?
What are the most challenging issues faced by your office in supporting the needs of your community?
What short-term and long-term steps would you propose or support to address these issues or challenges?
What would you like the public to know about this position?
Candidate's Name
Loren Sparling
Current Employment/Occupation
Dryden Town Clerk, Appointed Spring 2026
Government Experience-elected or volunteer (e.g. committees)
Dryden Deputy Town Clerk (2023-2026); Dryden Town Board Member (2020-2023)
Education
Cornell University, BA; Florida State University, MA; Boston University, MA
While serving on Dryden's Town Board from 2020-2023, I learned more about local government and was inspired to join the Town Clerk's office full time. I have always had a keen eye for detail, and I knew that serving as Dryden's Town Clerk would provide me the opportunity to use my talent for precision to give back to my community.
I was an archaeologist for many years, as well as an educator at the secondary and college level. Being the Deputy Town Clerk and now stepping into the role of Town Clerk, I have been able to use the skills I acquired in the field and in the classroom. In my work as an archaeologist, every detail mattered - being meticulous was essential. The work of the Town Clerk - from dog licenses to public records - requires the accuracy and consistency I honed in the field. Of course, the work of the Town Clerk is also to serve as a resource ot the community - to help people when they have questions and to make them feel comfortable when they ask. My years of working in education has led me to listen carefully, connect with others, and understand how important it is to provide information that is both correct and timely.
The Dryden Town Board, as well as my predecessor, Bambi Avery, have made good governance a top priority. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn about this role as a deputy and am running to ensure that the clerk's office maintains the level of excellence that Dryden residents have come to expect from their town government.
What has been key to our success is having a clear organizational strategy to align with state regulations and standards. I pride myself on being able to manage competing priorities - being able to balance immediate needs with long-term planning. Having served as the deputy, I have a strong sense of what our office needs to do - and when - to ensure we are not only in compliance but also going above and beyond to be transparent with residents and offer high-quality customer service to Dryden residents.
This position may not seem glamorous. The Town Clerk isn't voting on legislation, and it likely seems like just a lot of paperwork to those looking in. However, I take this responsibility very seriously. The Town Clerk's role is both about transparency today and creating a clear record for the future. Some folks have called me a "stickler" because of my commitment to following rules so diligently. I take this as a compliment! I believe you want someone who is committed to following rules down to the letter if they are overseeing taxes and expenditures, creating public records, and providing constituents with important information.
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