LOCKPORT — Like so many other races this year, a major issue in the contest between Wayne Jagow and Patrick Murphy for Niagara County Clerk can be summed up in one word.

Finances.

Murphy, a group benefits consultant with the Stahlka Agency in Williamsville, has worked in the health insurance industry for 20 years. He is running on the Democratic and Niagara Taxpayers Party lines.

The county clerk’s office could be more efficient and do more with less, Murphy said last week while speaking with the Union-Sun & Journal Editorial Board. Faced with some of the highest property taxes in the country, Niagara County residents can’t take on any more tax burden, Murphy said, even if the office does not use property tax dollars to function.

“But they do add to the tax burden when they hire people,” Murphy said.

Murphy said change has to come to county government. In the private sector, businesses have to watch finances closely and when challenges arise business owners adapt as needed.

“We have to start thinking like a business,” Murphy said.

Jagow is a Republican and a retired Niagara County sheriff’s deputy, where he was the chief of the juvenile division. First elected in 1995, Jagow has been the county clerk for 16 years. He is also on the Conservative, Working Families and Independence ballot lines.

During his tenure, the county clerk’s office has made a number of advances in both technology and cutting overhead, Jagow said. The office has 54 full-time positions but has cut its budget by 14 percent last year, then another 12 percent this year.

“It’s a balancing act, because you need to be able to know what’s coming in as far as funding and how you’re going to use it,” Jagow told the US&J board last week.

The county clerk’s office handles a number of items, including gun ownership, military veterans services, property records and drivers licenses. The position comes with a $78,000-a-year salary.

A Pendleton resident, Murphy is a first time candidate, but does have familiarity with politics. Murphy, 51, is the son of the late state Assembly member Matthew J. Murphy and brother of Niagara County Judge Matthew J. Murphy III. He’s had plenty of experience working for campaigns, including former Sheriff Thomas Beilein’s first campaign and a re-election effort by former U.S. Rep. John LaFalce.

Murphy is a United Way of Greater Niagara volunteer, as well as a member of the Lockport chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He also is a member of the Knights of Columbus and Families of FANA of Western New York.

Murphy said he would like to expand the access to the clerk’s office and records for residents. The clerk’s office could use a new perspective in order to find savings, Murphy said.

In addition to being the county clerk, Jagow is also the pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church on Beebe Road in the Newfane Wilson area. Jagow has also served as the chief chaplain for the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, as president of the New York State Association of County Clerks and as president of the New York State Archives Region 8 Records Advisory Committee. Jagow lives in the Town of Lockport.

One of Jagow’s proudest accomplishments is the Thank A Vet discount program. Through the program, veterans can receive discounts at more than 150 businesses throughout the county. The program also gets the veterans into the clerk’s office, where they can find out about other programs, Jagow said.

“Its simply a way to say thank you to the vets,” he said. “It’s a win-win for everybody.”

Murphy said he would like to see more online capabilities for people who are using the county clerk’s office or need documents. The county runs the clerk’s office website.

“We need to give residents better access to the information,” he said.

Jagow said the office has made some technological advances during his tenure. That includes making Niagara County one of the first to use e-filing.

Contact reporter Joe Olenick

at 439-9222, ext. 6241.