Candidate Profile: Lisa Brown For Oakland County Clerk

Lisa Brown, a West Bloomfield resident is running for Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds.

Age: 53
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family:I am married and am a proud mom of 3 sons and 2 step sons.
Occupation:Oakland Clerk/Register of Deeds- 7.5 years
Previous elected experience:Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds, 2013-Present
State Representative, 2009-2012
Family members in government:No.
Campaign website: https://lisabrown4michigan.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
The single most pressing issue is Covid-19. We have added ways for people to conduct business with my office including opening a satellite office, holding appointments for notary applicants via teleconference and expanded e-filing in our circuit court to include all case types to ensure everyone has access to justice. I've also cut over $600k in expenditures from my budget to help counter the financial impact.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
This office is more than elections, I have knowledge and experience in each of the divisions of this office as an attorney, certified elections/registration administrator and former realtor. I balance a multimillion dollar budget and my fiscal responsibility has led me to come in under budget in expenditures every year which has saved the taxpayers millions of dollars. I believe that just because you have the money doesn't mean you have to spend it, especially taxpayer dollars. I work well and lead my team of over 100 county employees and have good working relationships with other county departments, local clerks, and colleagues across the state as well as partners at the state level.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I have received national awards and attention for innovative programs I have created and brought to the county. I am one of only a handful of people in Michigan to have earned the national designation as a Certified Election/Registration Administrator (CERA). I am the only county clerk to be appointed by the State Court Administrative Office to sit on two court rules committees. I have been honored that the majority of voters in Oakland County have elected and re-elected me to this position. I am running for re-election to continue providing an accessible, efficient and fiscally responsible office to the residents of Oakland County and ensure our elections are accurate, secure and fair.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
Small business are the backbone of our economy and I support the efforts that have been implemented at the county such as grants for small business owners.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
Although the Clerk/Register doesn't have any authority over policy regarding policing, I support police reforms including but not limited to, requiring officers to wear a body camera, a ban on choke holds, a duty to intervene policy and regular mental health assessments.
The first deputy I appointed was the first person of color to serve as deputy, not just in the Clerks Office but in any Oakland County office. I have worked to ensure that everyone has access to the ballot by holding registration drives throughout the county.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
I believe that the clerks job is to work for all citizens of the county. Which is why I have held voter registrations drives throughout the county including at homeless shelters. I am proud to have fought for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. I created a program with the support of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to help individuals facing extreme hardship to have access to their vital records. I also pushed to eliminate the fee for a veteran ID card and reduced the price for a birth certificate for senior citizens. Additionally, I made our property records free to search online and available in 4 different languages to include our diverse population.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I would be honored to continue to serve the people of Oakland County as our Oakland County Clerk. For more information about my campaign visit my website at lisabrown4michigan.com.

This article originally appeared on the West Bloomfield Patch