That's what Crawford Town Clerk Kelly Eskew says when a young man and woman come into the Crawford Town Hall on a sunny Tuesday afternoon to pick up a marriage license.

Chances are pretty good that if you live in Crawford and own a dog, or like to hunt and fish, or want to get married, or have given birth to a child in Crawford (not a regular occurrence, but she smiles when saying that a baby was born in a nearby parking lot), you and Eskew have met.

It's a quiet afternoon as we sit and talk in her office, but Eskew's shoes — a pair of sneakers — suggests just how busy her job can sometimes get. She comes off as warm and friendly, with an easy laugh and a friendly smile. It's those traits that serve her well when dealing with the public.

"Since I am full-time, I am the person people see the most and connect most with the town," she says. "I want residents to have a positive experience when they come [to town hall]."

Indeed, in Eskew's role as town clerk, she deals a quite a bit with the public, and customer service is tops on her list when talking about the position's priorities. "I like for the people to feel like they are part of a community, and that this is the place they can come get help. You don't want anyone to go away unhappy so I try to help them as much as I can," says Eskew.

It would seem that Crawford voters are very happy with Eskew, who, in her third term as town clerk, regularly battles Crawford Town Highway Superintendent Steve Russell for the highest number of votes in each election.

Eskew smiles as she explains that part of the reason for her high rate of voter approval is because of all the controversy her position is able to avoid, unlike the controversy that can be generated by positions on the town board.

Though Eskew is not a Crawford native, she did marry one. Her husband, Alan, was "born and bred" in Crawford. Eskew grew up in Middletown and moved to the Crawford area 28 years ago when she got hitched. She has two children, ages twenty-four and twelve, and when she's not working, Eskew says that she enjoys spending time in her garden or reading.

Most of all, though, Eskew says she enjoys the open and friendly environment in Crawford.

"There are a lot of people that live here, but we still have that sense of a small town. You know the people you see on the street. And if you don't know them, you meet them and then you get to know them."

Vital Statistics for Kelly Eskew, Crawford Town Clerk

Hometown: Middletown, NY
Home Life: Married to Alan and mother of two, ages 12 and 24.
Education: Associate's Degree in Social Science from Orange County Community College.
Prior Work Experience: Crawford Deputy Town Clerk, Town of Crawford Tax Collector
Years in Crawford: Approximately 28

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