Ë®¹ûÅÉAV

And then Sue Dwyer announced she would not seek reelection this year. 

Dwyer, the longtime county clerk, will retire when she wraps up her fifth term in December. On Jan. 1, there will be a new clerk. 

The race to succeed Dwyer has been competitive, with three candidates vying for the countywide position. The most recent campaign finance filings show the trio has spent nearly $50,000 in their bids for the seat. 

What does a county clerk do? 

According to the county clerk's , the main function of the position is to serve as the clerk of the supreme and county courts. The clerk's office also serves as the recordkeeper for the county. 

The clerk oversees four departments — the local Department of Motor Vehicles, the county historian's office, the recording office and records retention center. 

County clerks are elected to serve four-year terms. 

Kristine Lytle

Lytle's message has been consistent throughout her campaign for county clerk. She has touted her experience working in a department overseen by the clerk. 

Lytle, a Conservative, rose to a supervisory role in the county Department of Motor Vehicles. She believes that experience sets her apart from the other candidates running for clerk. 

"This is not a career change for me," she said in April. "It is not a political aspiration for me. This is the next logical step in the progression of my career." 

Lytle has been endorsed by the Civil Service Employees Association Central Region 5, a union representing county employees, and a group of town supervisors. Among those supporting her campaign is Eric Ridley, a Democrat who serves as town supervisor in Throop. 

Since launching her campaign earlier this year, Lytle has raised $18,183 and spent $19,597. She has outspent her opponents in the race for clerk. 

If elected clerk, Lytle has said she wants to restore services that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and offer more DMV services online. 

Chris Petrus

Petrus, a Republican, also believes his experience helps him stand out in the race for clerk. 

As a Cayuga County legislator, he chairs the government operations committee. The panel oversees the clerk's office, which has allowed him to work with Dwyer. 

When Dwyer announced her retirement, Petrus quickly entered the race. Dwyer has endorsed him to succeed her as clerk. 

If he wins the election, one of Petrus's tasks as clerk will be to supervise the completion of the Digital Records Electronic Access Management System, or DREAMS, project. He sponsored the legislation to initiate the DREAMS project. 

Outside of his role as a county legislator, Petrus highlights his other professional experience. He is employed as a state parole officer — a job he will give up if he is elected clerk — and is a former deputy elections commissioner. 

"I've devoted my entire life to public service and I will continue to do so," he said in May. "I believe it is my political experience that sets me apart from all other candidates and makes me an ideal person to be the next county clerk."  

Petrus has raised $14,214 and spent $11,954 since launching his campaign. 

Brian Scanlan

Scanlan is an independent who was endorsed by the local Democratic committee to run for county clerk. 

A retired Auburn firefighter, Scanlan held leadership roles at the department and served on local committees. He also owns a small business, CNY Party Tent Rentals. 

If elected county clerk, Scanlan wants to engage in conversations with employees in every department managed by the clerk. One of those departments is the recording office. He has been contacting local attorneys to develop ideas for improving the recording office and heard from car dealerships about their DMV experience. 

When he launched his campaign for clerk, he lauded Dwyer for her service to the county. 

"I have an earnest desire to continue and build upon that," Scanlan said. 

Scanlan has been the top fundraiser in the three-way race. He has raked in $25,295 to support his campaign for clerk. According to his most recent filing, he has spent $17,610 and had $10,784 in the bank for the final two weeks of the election. 

Those endorsing Scanlan for clerk include Aurora Mayor Jim Orman, a Republican who served as county treasurer, and 1199SEIU, a health care workers union. 

State of the race

Republicans have an enrollment advantage in Cayuga County, which would appear to give Petrus the edge. But the race for county clerk is wide open. 

Lytle, who is also running on the Experience Matters line, has received plenty of crossover support from Republicans who are voting for the GOP slate — but not Petrus. The Conservative Party has been active in supporting Lytle's campaign, which could give her enough of a boost to win on Election Day. 

Petrus, though, has experience winning elections. He was elected to the county Legislature and is the son of the late Ann Petrus, a former county legislator and town supervisor in Brutus. Having Dwyer's endorsement should help, too. 

While Democrats are usually at a disadvantage in countywide elections, the three-way race has provided an opening for Scanlan. He is running on a second ballot line, Cayuga County United, to appeal to independent voters. If Lytle and Petrus split enough Republican voters, Scanlan could win the election. 

Each of the candidates have highlighted their experience during the campaign. Ultimately, voters will decide who has the most relevant experience to serve as county clerk.