FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2007

CONTACT:
Carmella Sabaugh 586-469-7939
Rich Robinson 517-482-7198

MACOMB COUNTY CLERK GETS GOOD GOVERNMENT AWARDS
FOR ELECTION SERVICES

Two years after a law change that requires the county clerk to run some school elections, Macomb County Clerk / Register of Deeds Carmella Sabaugh's office received a national award for conducting those elections. The National Association of Counties ("NACo") recognized Sabaugh for her student election inspector program that lets students learn and earn by working as official election inspectors under adult supervision.

Sabaugh also received a second award for posting county and local campaign finance documents on the Internet and improving compliance.

“I am pleased that our hard work is getting recognized,” said Sabaugh.

“This is well-deserved recognition. The move to put county and local campaign finance data online is a big step forward in making Macomb County government more transparent,” said Rich Robinson of the nonpartisan Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a campaign finance watchdog group.

Sabaugh has also received other NACo awards, including for:

• Creating PPO Assistance Center to help victims of abuse (1999),
• Sponsoring Campaign Finance Workshops to explain campaign finance rules (2000),
• Sponsoring Vital Records Informational Seminars (2005),
• Using computerized bar codes to efficiently process juror information (2005),
• Posting public circuit court case index and docket entries on the Internet (2005),
• County Offers Free SMART Bus Rides to Jurors (2005) and
• Countywide Library Materials Personally Delivered to Jurors Via Internet Request (2006).

Several other programs created by Sabaugh were considered for awards, including:

• Creating an online system to let voters track their absentee ballots similar to the way packages are tracked.
• Creating an online birth certificate verification system reducing Social Security Administration paperwork and thwarting fraud.
• Creating an online concealed weapons licensing system, letting people securely follow their application through the process.
• Using the internet to enhance her mobile clerk’s office services for those who cannot drive to Mount Clemens.
• Providing wireless Internet access for jurors.
• Creating a one-day / one-trial jury system, reducing jury duty from one week to one day and reducing costs.
• Creating a system to securely accept online payments of campaign finance fees and fines, improving election candidate compliance
• Creating an online vital records request system and providing overnight delivery.

Each year the National Association of Counties issues awards for good county government, including “achievement awards.” The purpose of the awards is to nationally recognize county programs that enhance services, improve county management or promote intergovernmental coordination.

“My staff and I are working to modernize the office and improve customer service,” said Sabaugh. “Winning awards is nice, but the important thing is for the public to get good service.

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