TRUMBULL COUNTY Lucas goes against Infante Allen, Stan in Dem race for clerk of courts

Three Democrat candidates point to their experience in vying for votes.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Significant money is being directed toward the Trumbull County Clerk of Courts race by the county Democratic party, a candidate says.
With the retirement of longtime clerk Margaret O'Brien, three candidates are vying to replace her.
June Lucas, former seven-term state representative who couldn't run again because of term limits, is pitted against Karen Infante Allen, sister of Niles Mayor Ralph Infante, and political newcomer Mark Stan, a supervisor at the Mahoning County Clerk of Courts.
David T. Simon, 2025 Crestwood Blvd., Liberty, is unopposed in the Republican primary race for clerk.
Lucas, who didn't seek the party's endorsement that went to Infante Allen, said the party is pouring money into the race because of Infante Allen's brother's power base within the party.
"I'm my own person," Infante Allen responded, adding that she worked hard to get the endorsement.
Her brother is a co-chairman of the county party. "Yes, he's there. Is it an asset? Probably," she said.
Lucas cites lawmaker career
Lucas said she is hoping that people will remember the positive reputation she had serving seven terms as a state representative.
The outspoken Lucas said she didn't seek the endorsement because she doesn't get along with the party hierarchy and she doesn't want her name on party literature "with someone who will end up in prison." Trumbull County is involved in an ongoing criminal probe concerning the payment of high prices for cleaning and other materials.
Stan, of Liberty, an assistant supervisor at the Mahoning County Clerk of Courts, said Trumbull County has lost $155,000 since April 2002 by residents' going to other counties to transfer vehicle titles.
"That's my objective, to get that money back," Stan said.
Pilot program
He pointed out that the clerk's office is not part of the Limited Authority Deputy Registrar state pilot program, which allows license plates and titles to be issued at the same location. Stan said he will push for Trumbull County to get involved in the program.
If elected, Stan also said he will work toward involving the clerk's office in a free state program allowing car dealers to transact business directly to the clerk's office by e-mail.
Concerning manpower, Stan said will bring back laid-off deputy clerks by luring title work back to Trumbull County.
Lucas and Infante Allen also agree that vehicle title money lost to Mahoning County should be redirected to Trumbull.
There is a movement to make now-public records private because of their access through the Internet, but the three candidates favor openness.
"We have a democratic society. People have a right to know what their neighbor paid for their houses and how much property taxes they paid," Stan said.
Lucas takes the same position on public records, opposing any more privacy.
Infante Allen said she will follow state law concerning which records are public.
Deputy registrars
Lucas is critical of deputy registrars. She calls the system "corrupt privatization" because of patronage.
She said she believes deputy registrars should be replaced with clerk-operated facilities through satellite clerk offices.
Working with the car dealers, Lucas said she believes she can lure title business back to Trumbull County.
Infante Allen and Stan said they want to expand hours in the title department. Lucas said that might not be possible because the county commissioners set the hours of the administration building.
The candidates tout their experience as the reason they should be elected. Infante Allen pointed to her computer experience in municipal court where she has worked since 1988. Stan calls attention to his 17 years of work at the Mahoning County clerk's office.
Lucas says she is familiar with administrative duties and has the ability to work with large budgets and delegate duties within the clerk's office.
yovich@vindy.com