Current Marion County Clerk Beth White must vacate her seat making the position up for grabs. Vying for the job are Republican Christine Bischoff and Democrat Myla Eldridge.
Bischoff currently serves on the Franklin Township Advisory Board. For the past 14 years, Bischoff has also owned her own small business that focuses on creating corporate programming and data driven websites.
“I want to make it easier for you to vote,” said candidate Bischoff.
She said her time as a candidate exposed her to the challenges of participating in the electoral process in Marion County. Election Day requires thousands of poll workers and machines, tens of thousands of ballots, detail and accuracy. Through her professional experience, Bischoff believes technology can be used to improve processes, increase efficiency and also reduce operating costs.
Democrat Eldridge currently serves as a team leader in the Marion County clerk’s office, managing special outreach programs. These programs include “YVote” initiative for students, Voter Experience Project community outreach, and a program for newly naturalized citizens. Eldridge also represents current Clerk Beth White, in numerous forums, such as serving as proxy on the Marion County Enhanced Access Review Committee and at the weekly T.A.G. subcommittee of Criminal Justice Planning Committee convened after spikes in crime in 2006.
Prior to her clerk’s office service, Eldridge served as director for the Marion County Election Board.
“I am committed to making sure the Marion County Clerk’s Office and the services it provides are accessible to all Marion County residents,” said Eldridge.
If elected, she plans to focus on the following issues: Elections, courts, customer service, and civic education.
Both women won their party’s endorsement during February slating conventions.
No matter the winner, the new Marion County clerk will have her hands full with plenty of challenging tasks.
The cerk’s office has two sides to the office. One side focuses on running elections on the local level including maintaining election equipment, receiving campaign filings, printing ballots, monitoring campaign finances and training poll workers.
The other side of the coin is court related. The clerk’s responsibilities include receiving new filings, managing various records and issuing marriage licenses.
“We are the fiscal agents of the court,” said White, who is currently serving as clerk. “Everything from fees to fines, from judgments to estates and bonds. We also collect and pay out child support.”
More than 140 employees assist the clerk with these tasks.
White is originally an attorney and when she initially chose to run for the Marion County clerk’s office she knew how important it was for the clerk’s office to be responsive to the people of the community and run an efficient office. She’s also worked in the election process for quite a while.
She ran in 2002 and was unsuccessful, then ran again in 2006 and was elected. She was reelected in 2010. The clerk’s office is constitutionally limited to two consecutive terms, therefore she must vacate her office when her term is up.
Throughout her time, she’s accomplished a great deal. She said she’s improved the election process spanning from recruiting and training of poll workers to access to voting. Under her leadership, her office has provided additional resources for voters including sample ballots and a portal online where voters can easily find their polling location by simply typing in their address.
“We have improved the information that goes out about voting; we have a curriculum we do in the high schools we call ‘YVote’ or ‘Youth Vote.’ We’re very proud of this – we’ve registered thousands of eligible students that way,” said White. “We’ve cut staff and cut our budget too.”
She’s also made payment options more flexible for those needing to pay fees, fines and child support; created efficiencies in how the office handles certified mail; and provided an online marriage license portal among other accomplishments.
Next on White’s agenda is a run for Indiana secretary of state, the highest election official in the state.
“I’m not done with public service. I really care a lot about election issues in particular. I want to bring some of the innovations we’ve been able to implement in Marion County to a statewide audience,” said White. “I believe we should do better to be advocates for voters all around the state and bring the high school curriculum to other schools across the state so young people can learn about voting. I also believe I can create some efficiencies in the way the office manages their functions.”
White will face incumbent Republican Connie Lawson.
For more information on the Marion County clerk candidates, visit christinebischoff.com or mylaforclerk.com.
