A third Republican has just announced her intent to run for Waukesha County Clerk, according to Sarah Millard of the Waukesha Patch. Gina Kozlik, the deputy clerk/treasurer of the City of Waukesha since 2008, joins previously announced Republicans Kathleen Novack and Kathy Karalewitz. I spoke with Jessie Read, the lone Democrat in the race, to get her reaction to the news.
As I suspected, Jessie Read did not seem affected. “I am confident in my abilities and will bring professionalism with integrity to this office,” Read told me on Wednesday morning.
I had spoken with Read last November about those abilities and qualifications. Read has her Master’s degree in accounting, “a tremendous amount of practical experience” in bookkeeping, and has demonstrated the ability to properly follow processes, she had told me. In addition to bookkeeping, Read has worked at non-profits and area churches, where she gained managerial skills.
Read had also stated that she’s unconcerned about her newbie status. Read stressed that the actual job of County Clerk is non-partisan, and “accounting, organizing, and keeping track of things in a secure and transparent fashion… has no political basis.”
Personally, I like Read’s approach to the County Clerk position. It’s more than just a job to her. She says she wants to be “a servant to the people.” And if there’s one thing we need here in Waukesha County after the train wreck that is Kathy Nickolaus (R), it’s a clerk who will hold herself accountable to the taxpayers and will put her own needs second.
Click here to read my November 5 interview with Jessie Read.
Wow it is so refreshing to get someone who speaks from the heart because we never heard this before. “I like Read’s approach to the County Clerk position. It’s more than just a job to her. She says she wants to be “a servant to the people.”
I agree- a Waukesha County Clerk who would hold herself accountable to taxpayers because she works for us IS refreshing.