DeKalb high school teacher Linda Finn is now an official candidate for clerk of the circuit court after filing her petition to the County Clerk’s office Thursday.

Finn said she is already forming grass roots, organizing fundraisers and planning ideas for improvement in the clerk’s office. “I want to visit as many homes as possible, and my main focus will be on efficiency, experience and commitment,” she said.

Finn said she believes she has experience through her past position as DeKalb CornFest Chairman.

“I have been involved with public service for most of my adult life, and I think it is something that needs to be improved (in the circuit court),” she said.

Finn said her focus for the next few months will be on the public service issue. She said she believes people should know more about the circuit court and deserve to receive equitable service when they enter the circuit court.

Finn said some qualities students should look for in a clerk are “knowledge of the job and ability to be informational and approachable.”

She said many NIU students go to the clerk to pay fines, and they have a right to know about the duties of the circuit court and how they are being carried out. “This is something I will be working on,” she said.

Ideas she has to inform the public of small claims court use are to have instructions in writing near the courthouse door or to have personnel available for information.

Finn said she would like to use public relations to get this message accross. “The clerk of the circuit court makes almost $38,000 and for (the public to pay) that amount, they have a right to know what it is and how to use it,” she said.

The clerk’s responsibility is to handle all paper work going through the circuit court, Finn said. The clerk “handles everything from traffic fines to divorce,” she said.

Finn said she plans to continue her teaching career until the end of the school year when she will focus solely on her campaign.