Loren Franklin believes herself an innovator, who, if elected, will use her 30 years of experience to help bring the position of Town Clerk into the 21st century.

“It takes an innovator to go in and implement some new systems and new initiatives,” Franklin said. “I'm hearing around town 'Thank goodness you're running because we need change.'”

The office of Town Clerk isn't unknown to Franklin. Last year, Franklin worked in the clerk's office for three months, and completed a project that helps the town track every employee's training, as required by the state.

“As I was working there, I realized that was my niche,” she said. “Working there prompted me to run for the position.”

She currently works as an office administrator at CoWorx Staffing Agency, a job she's had since January, but has also been a notary for 30 years, a position that can only be held with a government license and with legal training.

Franklin holds an Associate's Degree in business administration and has provided administrative assistance to multiple organizations in Massachusetts including Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, Bingham Dana and Gould Law Firm, and Tobey Hospital.

She also has a number of certificates from continuing education including a paralegal certification and legal research and writing certification from Aquinas College and Bristol Community College.

Though she was born in Worcester and raised in Dedham, Franklin has lived in Wareham for nearly 17 years. A former member of the Historical Commission, she is currently a member of Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene in Wareham and helps out at The Clothing Room, which provides clothes to people in need.

Self-described as “technologically savvy,” she hopes to bring the office “into the 21st century with new technology to streamline processes” and believes “that systems need to be updated and brought up to speed.”

Franklin is running against the current Town Clerk, Mary Ann Silva, who has been re-elected seven times, since entering the office in 1998.

Franklin worked under the Town Clerk's assistant for three months, but said she was fired, after she got a stomach bug and took a sick day she had not been authorized to take. Silva refused to comment, saying it was a “private personnel” matter.

Though she is running for the position, Franklin believes the position of Town Clerk should be appointed and not voted in.

“As it stands, the person in the position is not accountable to anyone, and if that's the case, then how will the job be evaluated?” Franklin asked.

Before running for the position, she wanted to find out if the job would be right for her. She said she made cold calls to clerks in neighboring towns, to learn more about the job itself, and to see if she met the necessary qualifications.

She learned that her three decades of administrative experience, as well as "always being able to be the go-to person in the office," made her a candidate for the job, and would allow her "to keep the office running smoothly.”

“All of my experience relates to the Town Clerk's job,” Franklin said.

A single mother with two sons, one of whom is in college, Franklin said she's “always looking for an opportunity to not only advance myself but to give my sons opportunities to advance themselves.”