Duties: The office serves as a document and information resource to City Council, all city departments and the people of Fort Wayne. In addition to maintaining official records, the clerk oversees the legislative process; schedules and prepares agendas for all council meetings; is responsible for the publication, updating and distribution of ordinances; and oversees parking enforcement.

Annual salary: $77,946

Term: Four years, beginning Jan. 1.

Republicans Pillie, Keesling look to succeed Kennedy as city clerk

Longtime Democrat incumbent to retire at year's end

Thanks to the retirement of Democrat Sandy Kennedy, Fort Wayne will have a new city clerk starting Jan. 1 for the first time since 1983. Current Chief Deputy Angela Davis is unopposed on the May 5 Democratic ballot, while two candidates — Lana Keesling and Derek Pillie — are vying for the Republican nomination.

Pillie says he learned a lot about the legislative process while serving as a staffer for Rep. Mark Souder between 2000 and 2010 — experience he believes would serve the people in Fort Wayne well as clerk.

“The three basic functions of the job are to manage the legislative process and procedures, keep the office running smoothly, and maintain information for the public,” he said. “I would track information and hold people accountable.”

The office also oversees parking enforcement, and although the office has no direct control of policy, Pillie would review costs and revenues to see whether the current system makes sense or should go back to the drawing board.

“I don’t want to study it for study’s sake; I would be creative and open-minded. If it makes sense for meters to go away I’d be fine with that,” he said.

Pillie conceded that new technology does not always produce better results, but he would explore whether the office needs to upgrade in that area. He also believes the office needs to do a better job of providing the public access to information.

“You have to keep people more informed, and education has to take place. The clerk’s job is to serve council and voters,” said Pillie, who vowed to follow state law requiring that agendas be published at least 48 hours prior to a meeting — a standard the office does not always meet concerning council meetings.

Keesling agrees the office can be run more efficiently and effectively, insisting that “technology isn’t being utilized at all.” Correcting that deficiency, she said, could reduce costs to taxpayers.

The office oversees the city’s parking enforcement program, and Keesling wants to make sure downtown Fort Wayne is visitor-friendly.

“I want people to say, ‘Wow — this is a great place to be.’ I want them to have a reason to come downtown.”

Exactly how she would do that remains unclear, but Keesling said technology could also help there “if there is a return on the investment. We need to look at what makes sense. What do other cities do? I want to go in and look at it.”

Keesling pledged that under her leadership the office would provide information on a timely basis and, like Pillie, she pledged to make City Council agendas available at least 48 hours prior to meetings as required by state law.

Keesling is past owner of Deck the Walls, an art gallery and framing shop.