Vote for Betty Dunn

Thank you all for your support of my campaign.  It didn’t end the way I wanted, but I’m proud of the campaign we ran. 

Thanks.

 To all Windham Voters:

I am running for election as your Town Clerk, and I ask for your vote on Tuesday, March 10.  In prior letters, I pledged to provide pleasant, efficient courteous service to every resident on every occasion, and to improve accuracy and efficiency in election procedures.  (You can read them here, here, and here.)

For most residents, their most frequent contact with the clerk’s office is to register a car, license your dog, get a fishing license, or the like. All of these services will be available without interruption if you elect me as your town clerk.  I even plan to streamline some of these transactions, both for resident’s convenience and for lowering town expenses.

Beyond these transactions, there are a myriad of other duties that are delegated by state law, local ordinance, and state-wide practice: election duties, record keeping, reports to state agencies, etc.  My experience and training makes me uniquely qualified to perform these duties. Because of my prior experience in many different official positions in Windham, I have an understanding of how our town works and how the clerk’s office can assist residents and other departments. Because of my legal training and experience, I can see how the clerk’s task fit into the “big picture” of town and state regulations.  This, in turn, makes it possible to create innovative means to accomplish tasks, solve problems, and respond to unique situations.  

I ask for your vote so that I can serve you as an efficient and effective Town Clerk.

If you have specific questions you would like me to address, please email me at EADunn30@AOL.com.  

Sincerely,

Elizabeth A. (Betty) Dunn

To all Windham Voters:

I am running for election as your Town Clerk, and I ask for your vote on Tuesday, March 10.  

In prior letters, I described how my prior experiences make me uniquely qualified to perform the duties of Town Clerk. (The letters are posted on this website.)  I also pledged to provide pleasant, efficient courteous service to every resident on every occasion. Today, I would like to talk about some of the Town Clerk’s duties related to elections.

For all of us, our right to vote, our privilege to vote, is one of our most precious rights.  One of the oldest and most important duties of a Town Clerk is to serve as an election official.  In New Hampshire, the Clerk is responsible for much of the election process, including the processing of absentee ballots and an accurate accounting of the votes cast.  (Not as important, but very real to tired candidates and supporters who wait on election night, is the ability to make a prompt announcement of the results.) 

 As School District Moderator, I have attended many training sessions on election procedures put on by the state or the local government center.  While working in the Attorney General’s office, one of my duties was to visit various election sites on Election Day to make sure that all regulations were being followed.  I know that I could improve on the election procedures used in Windham. 

Here’s just one example. I have already developed a simple Excel template that allows for easy entry of the information generated by the ballot machines.  I have successfully used this template in School District elections, and have also offered it for the use of the Town clerk.  But for anything as important as an election result, there should also be a system to cross-check the results before they are announced and certified.  This can be done by a simple pencil and paper chart, set up in an easy to use format.

In the coming weeks, I will write additional letters describing specifics on other improvements in service that I hope to institute as your Town Clerk.  If you have specific questions you would like me to address, please email me at EADunn30@AOL.com. 

Sincerely,

Elizabeth A. (Betty) Dunn

To all Windham Voters:

I am running for election as your Town Clerk, and I ask for your vote on Tuesday, March 10.  

In my letter last week, I described how my prior experiences make me uniquely qualified to perform the duties of Town Clerk.  

I also pledged to provide pleasant, efficient courteous service to every resident on every occasion. Today, I’d like to explain why this important to me, and to you.

I believe that there are two important parts to every transaction at a town office: the official transaction- the car registration, dog license, etc., and the social transaction- the giving and receiving welcome, respect, appreciation and a sense of community.. Here are some examples:

1. Registering Cars–When new residents come to the Town Clerk’s Office to register their cars, it is often their first contact with their local government.  When long-time residents arrive, it may be one of the very few times in a year that they have direct contact with a town official. The way that they are greeted and treated during this transaction, has lasting effects on how they feel about their town government. If they are welcomed and treated with respect, if their business is efficiently conducted, if they leave smiling, it increases their satisfaction with their community.  It may make them more likely to become actively involved in their town. It may even make it a tiny bit easier to later write out a burdensome real estate tax check.   
2. Taking an Oath of Office–When residents are elected or appointed to many of the important positions in town government, e.g., Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Conservation Commission, before they take any official actions, they must take an oath of office and complete paperwork at the Town Clerk’s office.  

The residents who serve in these positions take on significant responsibilities. By taking these positions, they commit to spend hours at meetings, hours preparing for meeting, hours fielding phone calls.  Because they are at meetings, they will miss children’s bedtimes and exciting ball games. Some of their work will be appreciated and some will be criticized.

As these residents take office, I would ensure that the procedures comply with all state and local regulations.  In particular, and in accordance with the requirements of our local ordinance, every office holder would receive a copy of Windham’s Conflict of Interest Ordinance and sign the required acknowledgement of receipt of that ordinance. 

Beyond the legal requirements, I believe that when residents take on the responsibilities of office, the circumstances of taking the oath of office should reflect an appreciation of their responsibilities and commitments. I would offer the person the opportunity to take the oath of office at that person’s convenience.  If they wished, friends and family could witness the ceremony.  (Perhaps children would better understand why Mom or Dad is not home for bedtime?)   Not a lot of hoopla, not a penny spent, but meaningful and memorable.

I hope that these examples give you an insight into the philosophy that I will bring to the office of Town Clerk.  I ask for your vote so that I may do so. 

In the coming weeks, I will write additional letters describing specifics on other improvements in service that I hope to institute as your Town Clerk.  If you have specific questions you would like me to address, please email me at EADunn30@AOL.com. 

Sincerely,

Elizabeth A. (Betty) Dunn

I am running for election as your Town Clerk, and I ask for your vote on Tuesday, March 10.  If elected I pledge the following:

• Pleasant, efficient, courteous service to every resident on every occasion.
• Efficient and resourceful use of the taxpayers’ assets, particularly the use of technology to facilitate residents’ transactions and reduce operational costs.
• Up-to-date knowledge of the law and regulations related to all the functions of the Town Clerk’s Office.
• Meticulous preparation for elections, including training and support for election personnel.
• Efficient and accurate execution of all election responsibilities.
• Cooperation, coordination and teamwork with all other offices of town government.
• Dedication to assisting all residents when possible, and willingness to direct residents to other resources where appropriate.

I have lived in Windham since 1973.  Over the years, I have served the town and school district in number of different capacities.  Among others are: 9+ years on the Board of Selectmen, 6 years on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, several years on the Planning Board-including time as Selectmen’s representative, 20+ years on the Historic Commission, several years on the Historic District Commission, 15 years as School District Moderator, and 2 years on Windham Cooperative Kindergarten Board. 

In addition to my experience here in Windham, I have also worked as a private attorney advising clients on municipal government cases and as a government attorney investigating and prosecuting cases involving government officials.  This combination of experiences gives me a uniquely qualified background to perform the duties of Town Clerk in a knowledgeable and professional manner.

In the weeks between now and March 10, I will write additional letters and website articles describing my goals and the improvements in service that I hope to institute as your Town Clerk.  If you have specific questions you would like me to address, please email me at EADunn30@AOL.com.  

Sincerely,

Elizabeth A. (Betty) Dunn