As the office of the clerk of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court begins long-awaited improvements in online access to records, Columbus City Councilwoman Maryellen O'Shaughnessy is the best candidate to carry out those plans.

In her 11 years on the council, O'Shaughnessy, a Democrat, has established a solid record of public service, with an energetic approach to solving problems and making the city a better place to live and work.

That sort of energy is ideal for the job of running the clerk's office: a busy, multiple-location enterprise charged with receiving, managing and disseminating all the legal documents filed with the Common Pleas Court, which includes the Domestic Relations Division and its Juvenile Branch. The clerk also issues titles for cars, boats and trailers.

O'Shaughnessy wants to see the office's online system become as extensive and convenient as that of the U.S. District Court, which is known for excellent online access. She also is interested in exploring ways the office could combine functions with the Franklin County Municipal clerk of court's operation.

Such innovation is welcome as all government budgets grow tighter.

Although she is employed as a lobbyist for the AFL-CIO and also is involved in her family's funeral-home business, O'Shaughnessy said that if elected, she will give up her union job and devote herself full time to the clerk's office.

Her opponent, family-law attorney Clarence E. Mingo II, is a bright and engaging newcomer to Republican politics. His interest in public service is genuine, and he shows strong promise for the future, but his experience doesn't stack up to that of O'Shaughnessy.

The Dispatch endorses Maryellen O'Shaughnessy for clerk of the Common Pleas Court.