The free tools available on the web are truly amazing.  One that we’ve added recently to our site is Google Translate.  There was a time where I was conversationally fluent in Spanish, but those days are past.  So it’s a little tough for me to really evaluate the quality of the translation offered here.  Regardless, this is certainly an improvement over nothing and gives us one other way to reach out to the many different ethnic groups that avail themselves of the services of our office.

I’d love to hear comments from anyone who is fluent in any of these languages.

Minutes for the County Board meeting aren’t posted until approved at the next County Board meeting.  But here is the roll call for the Management Performance Associates contract that was approved last night.

YES (21)

Chris Doenitz , John Jay, Larry Sapp, Ron Bensyl, Stan James, Kevin Hunt, Brad Jones, Jonathan Schroeder, Alan Nudo, Steve Moser,   Stanley S. O’Connor, Claudia Gross, Michael Richards, Matthew Gladney, Janet Anderson, Carrie Melin, Pius Weibel, Tom Betz, Brendan McGinty, Barbara Wysocki, Steve Beckett

NO (4)

Carol Ammons, Lloyd Carter, Jr. , Lorraine Cowart, Jennifer K. Putman

I’d like to thank those who have posted comments and questions as well as the readers of the blog.

I also want to let everyone know that I will attempt to answer all the questions that have been put out there, including those that have been sprinkled within the comments of various posts. I have many things to cover initially and want to methodically work my way through them. As I do I’ll be able to go through and address other issues. Once I make it through all the issues that have been offered so far, I’ll have another open posting time to give people a chance to ask about other topics of concern.

I really appreciate the opportunity this forum has given me and my office. I also appreciate the positive and respectful nature of the posters here. I think the blog is off to a great start!

There are a number of things that I’d like to post about in the next few weeks including new legislation and new voting equipment. However, I think an initial step might be to open up to readers any suggestions of ideas they would like me to examine in this forum. I’ve already seen some comments about campus voting and that will certainly be one idea that we will explore here.

Please post suggestions of issues for me to address. Make them specific and talk about specific examples. It does little good to post a vague question like “Why is it so tough to vote?” I’ll let posters know if a suggestion isn’t specific enough for me to address, so that the poster can follow up with a more specific issue.

I’m looking forward to some interesting discussion topics.

Welcome to the Champaign County Clerk blog. I think this a natural outgrowth of our efforts to communicate with the public about election issues. It also is a great way to solicit input from the public about our election process with the hope of continuing to improve it.

This blog will focus on changes in election laws, improvements to how we conduct elections in Champaign County, and educating the public about current topics in elections here locally. I think this has an opportunity to be a great forum for our community that will lead to greater understanding of elections, and greater participation in the process as a whole.

In starting this blog, it is imperative that I make everyone aware that blogging can not be, and will not be, the focus of my day. While I will monitor the blog routinely, if it becomes something that takes too much of my time, I will simply not be able to continue with it.

I have great faith in our community and feel that the blog and those who post here will become a valuable component to an active and knowledgeable electorate. I’ll look forward to the comments of people as we move forward into the blog world.