Meet the Candidate: Jackie Greer

The following is a question and answer session with town clerk candidate Jackie Greer. Greer (R) will run for town clerk against Democrat Frank Corvino. Corvino's question and answer session will be posted Wednesday morning.

Candidate Name: Jackie Greer

Age: 48

Political Affiliation: Republican, Conservative Endorsement

Education: Harrison School System and the Simmons Business School

Patch: What is your platform for running for this position? What should voters know about you before making their decision? 

Greer: My platform is to provide superior service to all the residents of Harrison while cutting costs. I want to build on the efforts made by the late Joe Acocella. The key word is build. I want to take the clerk’s office to the next level and I have all the essential pre-requisites for making that happen. I have 28 years of administrative experience, supervisory skills and leadership abilities. I’ve owned a successful business with my late husband. I believe that our senior citizens and those individuals with special needs require special attention and care. I’m in tune with those needs and I’m dedicated to bringing the clerk’s office on the road to serve our most mature and special residents. 

Patch: What is one thing you hope to improve about the way the town clerk’s office functions right now? How will you go about making this change?

Greer: I want to create a culture that allows our team to continuously search for new ways to simplify tasks, increase our productivity and enjoy coming to work. My efforts will be focused on improving the varied processes in the town clerk's office while providing unparalleled courteous service.

Did you ever wonder why many companies want you to answer surveys when they finished providing a service or have sold you a product? They want to know two basic things. How well they performed and/or what’s important to you.

I’ll initiate feedback tools to assist in determining what’s important to our residents. We have to get down to brass tacks and stop guessing what’s important to you the taxpayer. When it comes to our tax dollars (Yes, mine too!), I don’t want to spend them on new “toys and gadgets” that “I think” might be important to you. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If I spend money on technology, it has to save money! In today’s financial climate we need to watch every penny. 

Patch: How will you go about making these changes?

Greer: The feedback data will be analyzed. The highest rated functions will be improved first. We’ll eliminate unnecessary steps or create new ways of doing business and ultimately save time, money and provide superior service.

Continuous feedback will tell our team what services are meeting your expectations and what we need to improve. So, there will always be a feedback tool available online, in the office and of course face to face with me and our team. My goal as clerk is not to just meet your expectations, I want to exceed them.

Patch: How does your personal background prepare you to succeed at this position?

Greer: One word: Experience!

I have 28 years of experience in the private sector. My professional experience includes, but is not limited to:

• Executive Assistant to the Regional Vice President, Coca Cola Bottling Company
• Executive Assistant to the Chairman and President, Kemwel Group Inc.
• Assistant to the Vice President of Corporate Sales, Alamo Rental Car Inc.
• Senior Pre-School Teacher, Church of the Resurrection

My husband and I were successful owners of a food delivery company. We had over 20 employees. I was responsible for the administrative activities. The business grew very quickly and we were eventually bought out.

Patch: If elected, what is one specific thing that will be different about the town clerk’s office one year after you take office?

Greer: The Town Clerk’s office will have regular evening hours and it will be done at no cost to the taxpayer. I will open the clerk’s office during the scheduled evening court sessions. The building will already be open, therefore no extra personnel or security will be required. If this becomes successful I would consider keeping the office open from the end of normal business hours until 30 minutes prior to Town Board meetings. I will personally provide the service so there will be no overtime expended for salaried personnel. It’s one thing to say you’re going to keep the office open. It’s another thing to do it at no cost to the taxpayer.

Patch: How do you make improvements in the town clerk’s office while remaining fiscally responsible?

Greer: During these austere times creating less expensive ways to do complex tasks must be the everyday norm. Thinking out of the box and utilizing my previous experience will aide in the development of simplifying or completely changing the way we do business. The worst thing to hear in an office is “This is the way we’ve always done it.” All that tells me is there has to be a better way!

I’m all for digitizing forms, records and documents for viewing on the web and for inter-departmental use. However; I’m completely against the unrestricted viewing of documents such as your house plans and building permits by just visiting the town’s website. I don’t want to give criminals the ability to view the location of your security system or where your children sleep. Viewing active building permits is just an invitation for criminals to go to homes being renovated and steal tools and materials. I am a firm supporter of the Freedom of Information (FOIL) process. I will do everything in my power to expedite the process. But I’ll always defer to the legal department when it comes to your safety, security and legitimate privacy issues protected under the law. 

I will fulfill Joe Acocella’s goal of creating a no knock registry that forbids solicitors from coming up to your door. To cover the administrative cost of maintaining the registry I’ll request that the permit fees for solicitors be increased and each solicitor be charged for a copy of the registry.

Mandates placed on the town by state and federal bureaucracies can hinder doing the right things smartly. But, where possible, under my leadership the clerk’s team will find ways to work smarter to serve the residents of Harrison.  

Patch: Tell us something about you voters probably don’t know at this point.

Greer: For some reason it seems like people and the press have only focused in on my opponents technological skills and not mine as well. I’ve been involved in updating and selecting hardware and proprietary software probably before my opponent first used a computer.

I’m web savvy and have the abilities required to research, evaluate and select our future operating systems. I’m familiar with the AS400 operating system currently utilized by the town. When it becomes economically feasible, I will partner with our MIS department to upgrade and integrate new hardware and software with our current systems.

I’ve learned through experience that life can be too short. I know that each day has its ups and downs. I’m a very optimistic person. I tend to see the glass as half full. I know that I have the ability to bring a positive, experienced and healthy attitude through the clerk’s door every day. I’m looking forward to being a servant to you, my neighbors, friends and family.