Interviews with the candidates were conducted prior to Kelly’s announcement that Kasieta had been listening in on an alleged threatening phone call made to her by Matthew Smith, a school board member downstate and Republican candidate for the Genesee County Board. Phone records found during a Houghton County sheriff investigation found Kasieta was part of the call. In a statement provided to the sheriff’s office, Kasieta said the call had been Smith’s idea, and had not contained any threats.

The interviews were also conducted prior to a defamation lawsuit filed against Kelly this week by clerk’s office employee Beverly Smith, who is represented by the same firm as Kasieta. In the complaint, Smith alleges Kelly had improperly circulated damaging and false allegations about her in an email to numerous county employees and officials.

Kelly said in a statement Thursday she is “confident the facts will prove these claims to be groundless.”

“Right now my primary focus is doing the best I can to serve the citizens of Houghton County as their clerk during election week,” she said.

Kasieta

Justin Kasieta

As a lifelong Yooper, Kasieta said, he wants to take his unique life experiences and apply them to the Houghton County clerk’s office. Kasieta lost his father at a young age and grew up in foster care. He managed the successful 110th District race for State Rep. Greg Markkanen and now serves as his constituent representative, while also holding a financial job.

“I think I could take the sisu mindset that I got from being in foster care, and then combine that with my professional experience to be an effective and pragmatic county clerk,” he said.

If elected, Kasieta said election security would be a priority.

“I believe that everyone who goes to vote on Election Day should be required to present a photo ID to make sure we can have integrity in our elections and make sure no voters are being disenfranchised by fraud,” he said. (Voters are currently asked to show voter ID at the polls in Michigan; if they do not have one or forgot to bring one, they can sign an affidavit.)

Other priorities for Kasieta are government transparency and community engagement.

The county has been livestreaming its meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kasieta would like to see that continue even after normal meetings resume. He would also like to meet regularly with clerks and communities, and host remote office hours around the county.

To get up to speed on the job, Kasieta said he would use resources from the Michigan Association of Clerks. The clerks from the neighboring counties have also been helpful, he said.

“I feel that with the professional experience I already have, I feel I will be able to step into the job and transition very well.”

Although he has worked in politics, Kasieta said as clerk, he would serve everyone regardless of their party.

“We serve everyone, and we don’t ask what your party affiliation is,” he said. “We are there to serve the people. And that’s what I will do as county clerk.”

Kasieta said voters should choose him because of the fresh perspective he brings to the table.

“And I think the county could really benefit from that with my agenda of election security, government transparency and community engagement,” he said.

Jennifer Kelly

Kelly was appointed clerk in 2014 and was elected to her first full term two years later. She is running for another term because she loves her jobs, she said.

Since becoming clerk, Kelly has implemented a property fraud alert program and a veterans program at no cost to residents. The property fraud alert provides a phone or email notice to someone of potentially importer activity, such as someone filing a fake deed to make it appear as though the owner has transferred the property to someone else. The veterans program recruited businesses to give free products and services to veterans who have filed DD214 discharge papers.

Kelly also implemented software upgrades and e-recording of documents in the register of deeds office that saved county taxpayers $250,000 over the past three years, she said.

Kelly said her biggest accomplishment was learning the election system. The clerk serves as administrator for all Houghton County elections.

“Everything changes all the time, and to keep up with it, and to know how safe we are, how good of a system we have and what a great team we make,” she said.

In addition to elections, the clerk handles certificates for births, deaths, marriages, concealed pistols, and military discharges, among other records. In her register of deeds role, Kelly handles things related to the automation funds, transfer taxes and quarterly reports.

Kelly also serves as clerk for county boards such as the Board of Commissioners, the Canvassing Board and the Allocation Board. She also handles record-keeping for groups such as the Road Commission and Planning Commission.

“I’m told I get minutes out quicker than anything,” she said. “I’m the first county clerk to ever do weddings … that’s been an exciting thing for me, because I get to make people happy.”

If re-elected, Kelly will look at offering e-filing for birth certificates. She will also look at other opportunities for saving money for county residents, she said.

“I’m anxious to see what else is out there,” she said. “The vendors aren’t quick to tell you what you can get for free. You have to do a lot of reading, which I do at home.”

Kelly said voters should look at her 20 years of experience with the county, which also includes working in probate, district and circuit courts and as magistrate.

“I want to continue to help the people in Houghton County and anybody else that comes across those doorsteps, because I believe no matter what party they are, no matter who they are, they’re going to get treated the same way and hopefully leave with a smile on their face,” she said.