Interim county clerk announces election bid

By Patrick Lynn

Kayla R. Filen is running for a full term as Portage Co. Clerk.

Filen was appointed late last year to fill the remainder of former Clerk Shirley Simonis’ term, which expires in January. Simonis, who was the county clerk for 13 years, retired in January, but not before training Filen for about two months.

Prior to coming to Portage Co., Filen served as the deputy city clerk and election clerk for the City of Appleton. In a press release announcing her election bid, Filen called her “wealth of election administration knowledge a vital asset and key component to serving as the chief election official for the county.”

The unusual circumstances of the 2020 spring primary were a baptism by fire for Filen, but she said that “election security, fairness, and transparency are more important than ever and the people of Portage County expect nothing less. I am confident in my ability to administer elections that are both secure and transparent.”

Filen holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degrees, has completed the Municipal Clerks Institute, and is working towards her Certificate of Professional Development through the Wisconsin County Clerks Association.

“My hope is to continue my service to this community in the next four-year term and beyond,” she said.

The fall election will be held on November 3.