County Clerk Receives High Recognition

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – Clare County Clerk Lori Mott has been chosen to receive high recognition from the Michigan Fair Election Institute. The letter announcing her award read as follows:

“Dear Ms. Mott:

It is my pleasure to inform you that you are one of 18 county clerks selected to receive the Michigan Fair Elections Institute’s Sunlight Award, designed to recognize elections clerks for their ‘outstanding dedication and exemplary service in responding to citizens’ requests for information about elections with speed, accuracy, and professionalism.’ We are also notifying the chairman of your County Board of Commissioners of this distinction.

Of Michigan’s 83 county clerks, you were among the 18 who responded in five or fewer business days to a FOIA request for election data from the November 2024 general election. Only 22 percent of Michigan’s 83 county clerks provided the information that quickly.

Michigan Fair Elections Institute is presenting the award in honor of your commitment to transparency and efficiency. Your work strengthens public trust in the democratic process and upholds the highest standards of civic duty.

The award in named in honor of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Louis D. Brandeis’ famous comment that ‘sunlight is the best disinfectant.’ MFEI believes having citizen involvement in elections is an important check against corruption, and the check-and-balance system only works when clerks like you follow the law and make public information available.

The 18 clerks qualifying for the award met all three of the following criteria: 1) willingness to provide the information (Some clerks denied the request.); 2) not charging for the information, and 3) providing the data within five business days.

We are enclosing an article that provides additional background about our selection process and how other county clerks responded.

We are also encouraging your Board of Commissioners to make time on their agenda to present this award to you at an upcoming public meeting.

Congratulations and thank you for your service to the people of your county.”

As the Clare County Board of Commissioners did not act on the MFEI’s recommendation, last week Mott granted the Cleaver’s request to take a photo of her proudly holding that awarded recognition, which reads as follows:

“This certificate is proudly presented to Lori Mott, Clare County Clerk, and her staff in recognition of your outstanding dedication and exemplary service of responding to citizens’ requests for information at elections with speed, accuracy and professionalism. Your commitment to transparency and efficiency strengthens public trust in the democratic process, and upholds the highest standards of civic duty.”