2 square off for clerk of courts post

Two contenders are running to serve as Lorain Municipal Clerk of Courts.

Incumbent Ted Kalo and challenger Trina R. Smith both hope to fill the six-year term.

The job pays $117,980 a year, according to the Lorain Auditor’s Office.

There will be 48,914 voters eligible to cast ballots because Lorain Municipal Court jurisdiction includes Lorain, Sheffield Lake and Sheffield Township.

Ted Kalo

Kalo, 57, is the current clerk of courts.

He was appointed to the position Jan. 13 to succeed Clerk Lori Maiorana, who retired.

Kalo served 14 years as Lorain County commissioner.

He is an alumnus of Lorain’s former Admiral King High School and he and his wife, Wendy, have five children.

Since his appointment, Kalo said in his Morning Journal questionnaire that

he and staff have addressed many issues.

Those include complying

with annual reporting requirements and Ohio Attorney General’s Office on keeping up with the national background checks for those wishing to purchase firearms, Kalo said.

With the judges, he said the clerk’s office is installing a new case management system and moving toward a paperless system.

Staff are cross training within the office and the financial books are balanced, Kalo said.

“The office is moving forward to improve efficiencies in regards to collections of money due from fines and costs,” he said. “I also found a mistake of approximately $400,000 in the disbursement of fines and costs and am working on recovering the money for redistribution.

“I have also gotten the city of Sheffield Lake back online with the court for filings. It has been an exciting six months and look forward to continuing as your clerk of courts.”

Kalo said he brings a wealth of experience to the office from his past experience as a county commissioner and as a businessman in the private sector.

“I have shown in just eight months that I have the ability to work with the judges and the administration to improve processes, increase revenues and work with the public in a professional manner,” Kalo said.

Trina R. Smith

Smith did not return a Morning Journal election questionnaire.