Julie Haywood seeks re-election as County Clerk

Political Party: Republican

Hometown: Sallisaw

Current Town: Sallisaw

Education: Associate degree in Business Administration

Age: 47

Candidate Background:

I have an Associate’s degree in business administration from Carl Albert State College.

I Worked at Valley Land Title for 17 years and have been the County Clerk for 12 years.

I have been a member of Women in Business for 15 years, serving as the Treasurer for 2 years and President for 2 years.

I have Served as the Treasurer for the Drakestand Cemetery Association for 17 years.

1. Have you ever failed to pay any taxes or court ordered judgments? No

2. Have you ever been convicted of a felony? No

What are the top three messages of your campaign?

1. Extensive knowledge of land records with 29 years of experience.

2. Committed to maintaining an accurate and current record of legal documents.

3. Protecting the rights of taxpayers, property owners and voters and to perform the duties of county clerk to the best of my ability.

What are the top three most pressing issues facing rural Oklahoma? How would you address these issues if elected?

The economy, education and government expansion are what I believe are the three biggest issues facing rural Oklahoma. With rising food and fuel prices citizens of rural Oklahoma struggle to stay afloat financially. Schools operate at the limit of what is budgeted to them to provide an education to our children with no surplus. Many teachers take money out of their own pockets to provide needed materials for classrooms. Government has expanded its reach farther than it was ever designed to do in the name of progress and protection of the people. I will continue to do what I have done for the last 11½ years as your Sequoyah County Clerk. While the county clerk does not make policy I have and will ensure the tax dollars of rural Oklahomans in Sequoyah County are spent according to state law and as appropriated. My staff and I have also kept land records up to date so the Assessor and Treasurer can execute their jobs as efficiently as possible, and our schools can receive the correct amount of property tax dollars that is collected on their behalf. As far as government expansion is concerned, I have worked to focus on what my role as county clerk is, a public servant and my deputies and I will continue to do so wholeheartedly.

Explain your positions on economic development as it pertains to rural Oklahoma, in general, and Eastern Oklahoma, in particular.

Economic development in rural areas is difficult because as development comes, what makes an area is rural is usually lost. I think municipalities and citizens alike supporting locally owned businesses would really stimulate the economy in our area to benefit the people most.