Lois Owens, Democrat, Is Candidate For Clerk

Mrs. Cois Jean Owens of 2125 [ndependence today announced lier candidacy for the Demo-ratic nomination for county clerk. An Aug. 6 primary race is expected ior this nomination since petitions have been taken out by another candidate. The winner will oppose the Republican nominee in the Nov. ,5 general election. The GOP Inominee is expected to be Robert M. Harrison of Saline, now chairman of the County Board of Supervisors. He is circulat ing petitions and is expected to announce soon for the office be ing vacated by Mrs. Luella M Ismith, a Republican. I In her announcement, Mrs lowens said she intends, i lelected, "to continue the fin Itradition that Mrs. Smith h a lestablished during more than 2 lyears of service in this office pirs. Smith's courtesy and kinc Iness in accommodating all ir ïdividuals who come into the o: ce of county clerk have been haracteristics that Washtenaw ounty citizens have admired or years," Mrs. Owens said. The county clerk' s duties are many and exacting" in luding being clerk ofthe Board of Supervisors, the Ciruit Court, and the County Road Commission, as weU as having the responsibility for keeping "the official county documents that mean so much in the lives of individuals - birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates." The clerk also keeps the records of past and present litigation in the Circuit Court, Mrs. Owens noted. Those who apply for naturalization, pass ports and weapons do so with the clerk, she added. The candidate foresee "great expansión of the clerk' functions because of the ever growing population in Washte naw County." She said "mor . - ' - - xpeditious processing and fung will be demanded." "I feel that I can contribute o this growing process and hat my experience white workng for Bendix Aerospace Sysems División and the Univerïty of Michigan can be of bene ït here," Mrs. Owens sáid. I "The ability to communicatw with the public and to be awar f persons' needs assume great importance in the positioil of county clerk," Mrs. Owenf aid. Her employment experil enees, including that of being M meter maid for the city Policil Department, have prepared heil for this, Mrs. Owens said. _ I The candidate said she will encourage "more equal particil pation in politics from morJ members of our community.'l She said that political represen! tation in the county "has beerl viewed as being open only to m select few; that the peopie on the county need more fair repj resentation, that is - on a real community le vel. I "Political positions and of-i fices are open to any qualifiedl i person who should care to runj but because for so long candij dates have been appointed orí handpicked by only a few people many community memberd I are hesitant or unaware of theiri political rights," Mrs. Owens She appeared in a leadingl role in the Ann Arbor Civiel Theatre's produetion of "Raisinl in the Sun" last year. She isl also a member of the Black 1 Forum and of the Second Bap-I tist Church. She lives with her two sonsj Harold and Corey, both stu-l dents at Pattengill School. I The candidate was bom inj Manistee and has eight brothersl and sisters. Three of her sisters are teachers and one is a social worker. Her brothers are employed in engineering, industrial design, the State Department of Education, and the youngest is a pre-law student at Michigan State University. Her I parents, Mr. and Mrs. R a ymond A. Smith of Manistee, were chosen as the National UrI ban League's Negro Parents in I 1963.