The race for the office of North Hempstead Town Clerk this year features a contest between two ends of the personality spectrum. The mild-mannered and even tempered composure of Republican Linda Green, won her the seat two years ago, however this election she is challenged by the effervescence and activism of Democrat Michelle Schimel, a newcomer to politics, with a history of grass roots advocacy.

Linda Green, a former teacher, described in a clear, coherent and easy to understand manner her day to day duties as the current clerk for the Town of North Hempstead.

Green defeated incumbent Deena Lesser two years ago, in an election that witnessed the first Republican woman to be elected to North Hempstead office, and that broke a Democratic hold on the Town of North Hempstead. Elected along with Green were Republicans James O'Conner and Angelo Ferrara as town councilman.

The term of clerk is two years, as opposed to the four-year term for council members, so Green runs as the only Republican incumbent in the upcoming November election. She will run with a familiar face however, that of Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell who ran with her two years ago in an unsuccessful bid to take the position of supervisor from incumbent and current Supervisor, May Newburger.

Though the position of Town Clerk was at one time considered to be the top spot on the slate because the clerk's position is full time and affords the opportunity to meet many people Green defers leadership to her running mate who is a state incumbent and popular among Republican voters.

"I consider Maureen to be the head of the ticket," said Green in her office at the Town Hall Annex on Plandome Road. Green said she was saddened by O'Connell's loss two years ago, but was thrilled to see her become an assemblywoman. "My loss was the 17th AD's gain. I am excited about the prospect of working with her. The woman is a dynamo."

However, Green as clerk, does have an advantage she did not have two years ago. "In some ways that makes it easier. To get your name known takes a lot of time and energy."

Green said she is seeking re-election because, "I've done a lot, but there is always more."

For instance, the clerk's office is currently copying more than 250,000 birth, marriage and death records onto a digital disk for efficient computer retrieval. Along with this change comes a reduction in personnel - one person was reassigned to licensing. Therefore, in two to three years, the system will have paid for itself, estimated Green.

The Town's record keeping system is undergoing an overhaul, with a new numerical and color label system that will keep the records anonymous and easy to access.

This system is a vast change from what was there, according to Green. "If you could imagine a basement where everybody just threw their junk."

Green said, her office spends $100,000 less than before she took office. "We are doing more with less."

Green sought and secured a $22,700 grant for last year and a $24,500 grant for this year, both from the New York State archives and Records Administration (SARA).

She has also implemented a woman in government program, where she visits the schools of the Town and lectures on public service opportunities for women.

As clerk, Green, has married over 350 couples, signs both birth and death certificates and issues licenses for cabs, towing vehicles and dogs.

Green has also established relationships with the different clerks of the 30 villages of the Town of North Hempstead, and information booklets with the proper phone numbers for the Town offices.

Her other duties include acting as the secretary to the Town Board. Green posts the legislative agendas on the Town website and also posts the results to days later.

"This is a job for a renaissance person," said Green.

Michelle Schimel's voice booms over the phone and is filled with unbridled energy as she discusses the office of North Hempstead Town Clerk.

She brings a lot of energy and passion to the campaign, she says so herself. "The excitement is coming from running for office. It's such a good ticket. It feels good to be a Democrat."

Schimel was drafted by the Democratic Party as part of a youth movement instituted by new Democratic Chairman Tom DiNapoli who wants to invigorate the party.

"I'm the new kid on the political block in North Hempstead," said Schimel.

Before politics, Schimel was a "consistently committed community activist," involved in organizations like New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, of which she is the co-chair of the Long Island Chapter.

She is also a former trustee and membership chairperson of Temple Beth-El of Great Neck.

She runs alongside incumbent Council members Doreen Banks and Tony D'Urso as well as incumbent Supervisor Newburger. Schimel believes with property taxes up and surpluses in the funds, that this can only help her run for office.

"I have been told that this is the best slate of candidates the Democrats have ever had," she said.

As a Town resident, she has known Newburger for years, and the supervisor has always been very supportive of her, including setting up a box in the Town Hall to collect shoes for her Silent March on Washington.

Along these lines, Schimel would like to reciprocate acting as an ambassador for the Town Board as well as a disseminator of information in a more accessible Clerk's office.

How she will change the office is, for now, a close kept secret. "I have ideas that will unfold as we go."

Schimel balances a family life with a career as a nurse at North Shore University hospital and now politics.

"Part of my reason for running is that politics is not a spectator sport." Schimel wants to get people out there and get them to vote.

She said she intends to follow the lead of Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, using her grass roots strength to meet the people of the Town. "As for strategy, I'm going to go through a lot of shoes."