Michelle Graupner has announced her candidacy for Lehigh County clerk of judicial records, a position held by Andrea Naugle, who is retiring.

Naugle, the longest serving Lehigh County row officer and 50-year employee of Lehigh County, was appointed acting clerk of courts in September 1995 upon the retirement of Doris Glaessmann and elected to the position in November of that year.

She held the position for seven terms, last re-elected in 2019.

In a prepared statement Graupner said:

“I am happy to announce my candidacy for the Clerk of Judicial Records 2023.

“It is a challenge for which I am committed to putting my best foot forward. I have the experience and education to succeed. I received a Bachelor’s degree from Kutztown University in political science and an associate degree in paralegal studies from Lehigh Carbon Community College.

“I have been employed in the Clerk of Judicial Records office for seven years and have had two promotions with my current position being office supervisor.

“I possess the ability to constantly improve, am driven to succeed, and believe in collaboration, in the understanding that when we come together and work as a team, we all succeed. Every single person in an office, on a team, in an organization, employed by a business, or working in the government is valuable and contributes to the overall goal. I often realize that something can be done in a more efficient way and I intend to use that skill throughout my career.”

“I used to often consider many possibilities as to what my purpose was, the goal I had for my career, and the intentions I had when interacting with others. It wasn’t until I fully engrossed myself in pursuing a career as a public servant that I discovered the answers to those questions. Every day I am compelled to provide the best service, provide all the resources I can, and interact with others in an approachable, understanding way to make sure we are doing everything we can to assist the public with their legal processes. It’s a daily objective to ensure tax dollars are being used efficiently and appropriately. For example, an initiative recently enacted is providing the service of court orders electronically, which has substantially cut down on costs, specifically paper, ink, postage, and envelopes.

“I currently volunteer with the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to defend democracy and encourage citizens to vote. I have been a League member since 2018, and from the start, I became a board member.

“There are a number of positive initiatives the League takes on such as being a pillar of the community, encouraging citizens to register to vote, going out to vote, and informing voters of who is on their ballot by providing a Voters’ Guide in print and online.

“I was initially drawn to the League due to it being a place where all are welcome and even though we all have different ideologies, we can come together to better our community.

“Public service has allowed for me to grow my career and focus on how I can make a difference to the residents of Lehigh County as well as how I can encourage others to do the same as employees of Lehigh County, specifically those working in the Clerk of Judicial Records office.

“I am committed to making the world a better place and I intend to continue my commitment by being the next Clerk of Judicial Records.

“I look forward to serving this community by maintaining efficient and accurate ways of recording and retaining records, and I am very honored to take on this venture and have your support for the road ahead.”