To the Editor:

When I started work at the DMV in 2003, I never envisioned that I might be running for county clerk years later. My only goals at the time were to do my job well and to serve the DMV customers to the best of my ability.

In 2007, we started the downstate dealer business. I certainly don’t take credit for starting this business nor do I take sole credit for building this business. Through hard work, dedication and attention to the needs of our customers, the dealers, each one of us at the DMV office who dealt with the dealer business helped to build it.

If needed to get the job done, we would go in early, stay late and work through our lunch hours. We dealt with the dealers on a daily basis and they appreciated the unexpected attention to customer service and help with their paperwork.

Since this program was started four years ago, we have brought millions of dollars into the county.

When the first deputy county clerk retired in 2008, I was asked to be first deputy. I was chosen because of my experience at the DMV, my work ethic and dedication to the offices and because of my commitment to quality customer service. I also had 23 years experience as a business owner/operator.

As deputy county clerk, I had many duties in the office from balancing bank accounts to monthly reports, to keeping track of time off and processing time sheets for 26 staff members. During my first year as deputy, I also helped extensively with scheduling, preparing agendas and attending the NYSACC conferences.

I helped oversee the county clerk and DMV offices and I also helped at the DMV when needed. As first deputy, it was my responsibility to run the offices in the absence of the county clerk.

If elected, county residents can rest assured that they will have a county clerk who is fully committed to running the offices efficiently and to providing quality customer service. My first priority will be to visit Long Island area dealers to recruit more downstate dealer business because this valuable revenue helps to keep our local property taxes down.

I am also committed to our local customers and to providing convenient, customer friendly offices. The Ogdensburg DMV office will remain open through the lunch hour. I will continue to work with other county clerks on issues that affect our offices, such as getting a cut of the revenue from DMV business done online. Your input and ideas on how we can serve you better will always be welcome.

Thank you for your help and support. I would appreciate your vote on Nov. 8.

Mary Lou Rupp

Ogdensburg