John J. Russell

John Russell has been a resident of the county since 2019, living in Plano and working in the cybersecurity field. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut, an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, and a Master's in Science Education from East Carolina University. John decided to enter this race at the last minute after learning it would otherwise be unopposed. "I believe the current clerk deserves the respect of a real race after her years of service," he says, "and voters deserve actual choices on their ballots.

Democracy works best when it's not just a formality." While he admits that running for office wasn't on his calendar a few months ago, John is committed to bringing fresh perspective, transparency, and accountability to the clerk's office. His background in cybersecurity—protecting systems from bad actors—combined with his education in management and community service, has prepared him to serve residents with integrity and efficiency. "Sometimes the best candidates are the ones who step up when nobody else will," John notes. "I'm here to earn your vote, not just claim it by default."