I appreciate everyone involved in Tuesday night’s Forum, from the organizers, the candidates and the voters who took the time to get informed. My opponent was not in attendance and his statement was read after I was excused, so I will take this opportunity to respond and wish him well with a quick recovery. As I stated in my introduction Tuesday night, this entire year my campaign has been solely about what I know I can do for you. Let me share some facts about this office I love.
The Rowan County Clerks office must operate in uniformity with all 120 Counties across the state. Meaning that all counties use the same hardware and software for vehicle transactions. Ky COT, Commonwealth Office of Technology, updates each Clerks office with new computer systems on a 5 year rotating schedule. So yes, our current clerk is correct, Rowan County got new computers his first year in office. Just as in 2009, 2014 and will again around 2024, REGARDLESS of who the clerk is!!
As I stated Tuesday night at the Forum, the vendors currently being used by Rowan County Clerks office, Software Management and Harp Enterprises, are tried and true! They have been conducting business for many years and were selected as vendors by prior clerks Ottist Elam and Jean Bailey to service Rowan county’s voting, recording and bookkeeping departments. I attended a training session in March 2018 held by State Vendor Tenex and State Board of Elections. We learned how the new E-poll books would be used versus paper rolls and how to train our poll workers on these new devices. Two precincts used these devices in the 2018 Primary and General elections. After such positive feedback, they became available statewide, for each precinct in the 2019 Primary Election.
The Clerks office was awarded a grant for $220,000 to use toward the purchase of new voter equipment. I know because after his initial application received $14,000, I then answered a call, completed a questionnaire and obtained information they requested to complete a second part of the grant and was awarded another $206,000, to make the grand total of $220,000. I believe as an office we must all work as a team. I will do my best to ALWAYS acknowledge all contributions to our office, as a TEAM!
In 2020, when the Covid pandemic hit, myself along with three other deputies worked on the front line handling vehicle transactions. I worked the bookkeeping department in the evening. Our chief deputy covered the deed room. We issued marriage licenses to couples from different counties and states, the same as several other counties did. All Courthouse officials worked together to get walk-up windows installed for our office and the Sheriffs office to help assist those customers that weren’t comfortable coming in the building. State Board of Elections along with Secretary of State required ALL counties to have drop boxes available for absentee ballots, as this was the first time they could be requested WITHOUT a specific reason!
Social media accounts have been created and used during the current administration, more so than ever before. When The Morehead Newspaper closed we had to have a way to advertise and inform. Government social media accounts have a completely different set of rules than our personal accounts do. Following the laws for EVERYTHING in government is so important. I will always be a clerk that WORKS FOR YOU!!
The Clerks office under my administration will be 100% customer service based! It will be an office of Honesty, Integrity, and Accountability. I will always show up for YOU!! I truly have loved my years of working in the Clerks office and look forward to returning in January!
Please make an informed decision, research and ask questions!!
VOTE KRISTI SMITH BAILEY
ROWAN COUNTY CLERK
#1 on the ballot!!
#bailey2022
