To help our community members make informed choices in the upcoming election, we asked candidates running for important local, state, and national seats to participate in our Forum to help you get to know them better. Today, meet Sarah Joshi.

Running to serve as the Kalamazoo County Clerk & Register of Deeds, Sarah Joshi’s motivation to run for this office derives from her desire to share her experience with the community. “Kalamazoo County has one of Michigan’s most well-respected and longest-serving Clerks & Register of Deeds,” said Sarah. “As he steps aside, I believe I have the education (Master of Public Administration), experience (20 years), relationships, and temperament to do the work and provide a seamless transition.” In this role, Sarah’s top priorities would include increasing staff diversity to improve problem-solving and better serve our diverse community; helping to establish the risk-limiting audit, a state-of-the-art results-testing process, as a statewide standard; and adding value to the Clerk/Register’s services by connecting clients to the business and human services. Sarah also shared that her favorite movie is “The Kid” describing it as “sweet and sentimental.” Her favorite food is a Comensoli’s meatball. Meet Sarah Joshi.

NAME
Sarah Joshi

AFFILIATION
Democrat

POSITION SEEKING
Kalamazoo County Clerk & Register of Deeds

DISTRICT POSITION REPRESENTS
Kalamazoo County

EMAIL
joshiforclerk@gmail.com

WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION FOR RUNNING FOR OFFICE?

Kalamazoo County has one of Michigan’s most well-respected and longest-serving Clerks & Register of Deeds. As he steps aside, I believe I have the education (Master of Public Administration), experience (20 years), relationships, and temperament to do the work and provide a seamless transition.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES WITHIN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS ELECTED OFFICE?

• Increase staff diversity to improve problem-solving and better serve our diverse community.
• Help establish the risk-limiting audit, a state-of-the-art results-testing process, as a statewide standard.
• Add value to the Clerk/Register’s services by connecting clients to the business and human services.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS WITHIN THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND RESTRICTION OF THE OFFICE?

As openings arise, I will focus on applicants who bring diverse knowledge, skills, and backgrounds. I will continue to work with the Bureau of Elections on the risk-limiting audit pilot project. I will also bring new businesses together with those providing vital support services to help build important local networks.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY IF ELECTED?

Using minimal resources, as Clerk/Register I will connect DBA (Doing Business As) applicants with local financial and marketing services able to support their businesses. I have experience in establishing effective programs at low cost, and I look forward to supporting local businesses by implementing similar methods.

FAVORITE CAMPAIGN SONGS

There are so many, especially those by the Beatles, Queen, and Gangster Fun. Also, I may be responsible for about a million of the 85 million views of the Tom Petty/Jeff Lynne/Prince/Steve Winwood performance of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

FAVORITE MOVIE

I like Disney’s “The Kid” starring Bruce Willis and Spencer Breslin. It reminds me that there are important lessons to be learned from children—and from our own childhoods. It’s a little sweet and sentimental, but it really resonates. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it.

FAVORITE BOOK

Continuously learning is important to me, so I tend to read textbooks and other non-fiction. Favorites include “Influence” by Dr. Robert Cialdini, “Seeing Systems” by Barry Oshry, “Better than Before” by Gretchen Rubin, and “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert.

FAVORITE FOOD

It’s hard to argue with a Comensoli’s meatball!

The Primary will be held on August 4. The general Election will be held on November 3. Sarah Joshi is seeking this seat as a Democrat.