Clerk's race features four-term incumbent Krohne, challenger Harms

The County Clerk’s office is an intricate and diverse department that deals continuously with almost every part of Platte County’s local government. In addition to handling all of the accounts payable for each department and acting as the official and permanent record keeper of county business including contracts, agreements, and minutes of meetings, the Clerk’s office also handles all licensing of businesses in the county, helps set yearly levies for all jurisdictions, and swears in all notaries, board members, and sheriff’s deputies.

Current County Clerk Sandra Krohne has led the department for the past 16 years, but will be facing a challenger in Republican Joan Harms this November. Both candidates similarly emphasize their ability to run the office in a professional manner and be as efficient as possible with county resources, but their backgrounds may give a better picture of their candidacies.

Krohne has spent a total of 23 years in the office, 16 as the elected County Clerk, as she worked under former County Clerk Doris Gerner for seven years before Gerner recommended she run for the position upon Gerner’s retirement.

“I considered it an honor that such a respected person would think that highly of my abilities to handle this complex office,” Krohne said. “I was successful, and have been re-elected to three more terms. I contribute my success to hard work, treating people with kindness, respect and dignity, and doing the best possible job for the people I serve.”

Krohne

During her sixteen years of service Krohne says she has implemented many changes to cut costs and bring in revenue. She played a role in passing a ballot measure to bring county liquor licensing structure in line with state licensing. This resulted in bringing approximately $50,000.00 more dollars into the county’s general revenue fund.

“I was also instrumental in bringing document imaging to the county which saves the departments and the public valuable time. It saves the County money and makes our county greener by saving on ink and paper usage” Krohne said. “Also, in 2006 when budgets were cut, I lost a full time staff member. I was able to further streamline the functions in my office to be able to do more with less people.”

While Krohne has experience in the Clerk’s office, Harms believes her experience in the corporate world along with owning a small business make her the ideal candidate for the job.

“I am a business person. I am not a politician. The Clerk's office is a business office. I bring 21st century business experience and business education to the hiring table,” Harms said.

Harms

It was after she spent time advocating in Washington D.C. and Jefferson City for different groups that she decided she could use her skills at the local level. She says there are some basic things she’d like to do to improve the Clerk’s office.

“I would audit the work flow processes within this office, investigate avenues to add new services for Platte County taxpayers, and seek to bring additional value streams into the county,” Harms said.

Both have interesting insights to the positive progress made in Platte County over the last decade including Krohne’s optimistic look at the job county leaders have done and Harms’ look into the new diverse business additions offsetting the loss of aviation jobs in the area.

“We have had County Commissioners who have had a great vision and have planned well for this growth. We have had some of the greatest minds on various boards who have come together to offer expertise and ideas to guide us in a positive direction. Our officeholders and department heads have been extremely diligent in keeping costs down while continuing to offer the best product we can for the people we serve,” Krohne said.

“Diversified businesses recently planted have helped to solidify the disappearing aviation job market. In the recent past, new housing developments have increased the population. With this growth, our median family income in 2009 has increased around 25%,” Harms said.

While Krohne says her 23 years of experience in the office allow her to know where to find answers and deal with the complexities of county government, Harms believes Platte County voters want new blood and pointedly referred to her opponent.

“It is not enough for politicians to give good customer service or to state that they love their jobs. Elected officials are workers for the taxpayer. We should be out ahead of the expected, reaching and implementing new changes to improve Platte County,” Harms said.

“Even though the political environment is strained, people recognize that on the local level, it's not about politics. It's about doing a good job, having the knowledge to handle the many functions in our offices, and continuing to take care of the people we serve,” Krohne said.