After serving for 20 years, the first woman to hold the title of Cayuga County Clerk will retire in just a few days.
Dwyer told Finger Lakes News Radio that, while the duties of her office haven’t changed that much in the past 20 years, technological innovations have changed how those duties are performed.
“Because we’re a countywide office and we’re constitutional officers – the county clerks are – the duties don’t change a lot but how we do those duties change a lot,” she said.
When she was first elected in 2003, Dwyer said paper and original signatures were the standard; however, now the county uses e-filing. She added that this shift from physical copies to electronic storage is the biggest change of her career. This is exemplified by the $4 million Digital Records Electronic Access Management System (DREAMS) project to digitize over 12,000 cubic feet of physical records, something Dwyer said will be her legacy.
“We’re making good progress and I’m very proud,” Dwyer previously told Finger Lakes News Radio. “Like I said, this is going to be a legacy for me, this project. It’s big.”
Another change Dwyer oversaw included the implementation of New York State’s Green Light Law which allows anyone in the state 16 years or older, including those in the country illegally, to receive a state-issued driver’s license or learner’s permit. Dwyer was a vocal opponent of the law.
Other changes included working through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rollout of REAL IDs.
As clerk, Dwyer oversees the Historian’s Office, Records Retention Center, the Recording Office, and the Department of Motor Vehicles. After 20 years of service to the people of Cayuga County, she is proud of the work she and her team have done.
“I’m very proud of my staff and myself,” Dwyer continued. “Our focus is all about being great customer service people. You come into our office and you don’t feel like you’re in a government entity; you feel like you’re being taken care of, and we live and breathe that every day. I have a great staff in all four departments.”
While Dwyer, a Republican, made history when she became the first woman to be elected Cayuga County Clerk, she said she didn’t find that out until after the election.
“I didn’t know that at the time and somebody brought it up right after I was elected,” she said. “They have a plaque right in the hall of my office and I noticed all the names are men.”
While she explained that she was proud of the accomplishment, she was most concerned with helping the people she was elected to serve.
Dwyer plans to spend her retirement exploring the rich history the county has to offer. She also plans to spend much of her time at the Seymour Library, a building she believes perfectly captures her love of reading and history, and with her family. After some much-earned rest, she adds that she plans on volunteering within her community.
After a three-way race between Conservative Kristine Lytle, Republican Chris Petrus (whom Dwyer endorsed), and Democrat-backed Brian Scanlan, Scanlan was elected her successor in November.
Before the election, she was asked what advice she would give to whoever would succeed her. Dwyer said the most important thing is listening.
“I would say if somebody needs help, have them come into your office and sit down and listen to them because most of the time that’s what they wanted and they haven’t gotten it… please help people in any way you can,” Dwyer said.
After 20 years on the job, Dwyer’s final day as county clerk is December 31.
