To the Editor:

Can someone tell me how removing a productive, revenue-generating county clerk from her position for no employment-related reason is beneficial to our St. Lawrence County economy?

The interim county clerk is part of the team that generated over $1.5 million in revenue for our county in 2010, an increase of 48 percent over 2009 revenue, and similar amounts dating back at least to 2006. They have actively recruited additional motor vehicle registration business to bring additional revenue which helps St. Lawrence County in this critical financial period.

What was the “brain trust” in Albany thinking when they replaced interim clerk Mary Lou Rupp? How can they take such an action and say with a straight face that they care about the economy of our county? It doesn’t make sense.

Any freshman business class student knows enough that when you have a good, productive business team functioning, you don’t rearrange responsibilities and throw in a newcomer and expect that mix to continue to produce as they had previously.

In fact, it is reasonable to expect a loss in productivity, which may or may not be temporary. We cannot afford that!

St. Lawrence County and its residents continue to face extreme fiscal issues, much of which is due to the dysfunction in Albany and now, Albany has imposed its will on us again, regardless of the impact of their decision on us.

Governor Cuomo has said that we need to be more competitive. Then his administration forces us to be less competitive. It doesn’t make sense.

We must put the most highly qualified people in positions where they will provide the most benefit to St. Lawrence County and not give appointments for political patronage. If not, in the end, we will suffer- less revenue means fewer services and fewer jobs.

Haven’t we suffered enough of that? Ask Albany why.

Dan Parker, Potsdam