KNOX — Traci Schanz, who is enrolled in the Independence Party, is running on the Republican line for town clerk. Schanz has lived in Knox for her whole life, and is looking for a way to give back to the people in her town, she said.

Schanz, 45, currently works as an occupational therapist assistant for children with disabilities. She is contracted out by a private company to public schools in the area. Before that, she worked for a company in which she had to work evenings and weekends. Since she currently has those times free, she feels she is now able to serve as town clerk.

“It’s just a good time in my life now that I have the time to do it,” she said. “It’s not something I take lightly.”

Schanz currently attends town meetings, and has volunteered at events such as the town-wide cleanup.

“I try to help out when I can,” she said.

In her work in occupational therapy, Schanz must maintain records on the children she assists, and must keep an organized schedule for a caseload of up to 50 children.

“I feel like I have those skills to be organized,” adding that she has good people skills, both of which are needed as town clerk.

“The town clerk is the first face that people see,” she said.

Were she to be elected, Schanz said that she first would communicate with all those in the town government.

“First thing would be to work as part as the team,” she said.

Regarding record-keeping, Schanz said that she would try to build on the system already in place. She is not familiar with what system is used to keep track of the records, but said that, once she is familiar with the system, she would like to try to streamline it and make it more efficient.

Schanz said that, in minute-keeping, providing a written record of town meetings, it would be important to be specific and concise. She said that her decision to use quotes in the minutes, which has been debated at previous Knox Town Board meetings, would depend on the consensus of the town board.

“It is my job to do what the town board thinks is best,” she said.