ATTLEBORO - Yolanda Cespedes, one of four candidates for city clerk, had a chance to leave Guatemala as a young woman, and she took it.

She's never looked back and has learned English, become a U.S. citizen, found her way in the working world and is now participating in one of the most American of activities - running for office.

Two of the four candidates will be cut in a Sept. 18 preliminary election, but Cespedes along with the others are working hard to stave off elimination.

A principal clerk in the assessor's office for six years, Cespedes previously worked in the clerk's office for seven years.

Experience in the office and an ability to converse with Spanish speakers are qualities she hopes will convince voters to elect her, she said. "I can give so much to the city with the experience that I have," Cespedes said.

Computerization of all city records would be her goal if elected, she said.

Cespedes is using signs, pamphlets and door-to-door campaigning in her effort to win the office.

Her campaign is part of her American dream and a way to repay her new land, she said.

"This is a land of opportunity. If you work hard you can accomplish anything you want," Cespedes said. "I want to give back to this country that has given me so much."

Meanwhile, next door in the police department, Darlene Oliveira, a principal clerk for 11 years who holds two part-time bartending jobs to make ends meet with a daughter in college, said her experience qualifies her for the clerk's job.

"I'm the record keeper for the police department and I do many of the same thing the city clerk does," she said. "The two jobs are similar. I feel very qualified for the job."

Every record created by the police department is filed with Oliveira. There are legal requirements she must know and follow for all documents regarding privacy and length of time the records must be kept, she said.

Oliveira is frank about one of the reasons she's seeking the position.

She needs the money. Her salary would jump from around $35,000 a year to around $64,000 a year.

"I'm a single mother with a daughter in college, and the job would double my pay," Oliveira said.

And since she has no young children, she would have time to dedicate to the office, she said.

But qualifications, money and time are not the only reasons she wants the job. She also wants to serve, Oliveira said.

"I'm a lifelong resident, and I love Attleboro," she said. "It would be an honor to be in that position."

If elected, Oliveira wants to make the office more "cyber friendly."

She would like to computerize records and make them available online to the extent possible.

Working three jobs doesn't leave much time to campaign, but Oliveira said she'll be going door-to-door, putting up signs and distributing leaflets.

She also intends to meet with groups.

On Tuesday, she's slated to meet with senior citizens at the council on aging.

Another longtime city employee, Community Development Director Betty Shockroo, spent two years as assistant city clerk and points to that experience as key. In addition, she's a justice of the peace and notary public, both important functions of the clerk's office, she said.

"I feel I'm well versed in the duties of the office of city clerk," said Shockroo.

Shockroo has 27 years' experience in city government, spending most of that time in community and economic development jobs.

During her tenure, she's learned to write budgets and grants. Both skills would be useful as clerk, she said.

Grant-writing would help her find money to preserve and computerize city records, a goal that Flood pursued for years, Shockroo said.

"Her dreams would become my dreams," said Shockroo who was a close friend of Flood.

Like the others, Shockroo is using signs, pamphlets and door-to-door meetings to boost her candidacy.

She intends to make her message clear.

"I am the most qualified person for this position," Shockroo said.

Meanwhile, the only experienced politician among the four candidates promises some "creative campaigning."

Tony Viveiros, a former city councilor who ran campaigns for former Mayor Judith Robbins, said he will do traditional campaigning with signs, but has some new strategies as well.

One is placing an ad on The Sun Chronicle's Web site.

Viveiros, who currently holds seats on the park commission and alcohol licensing board, said he wants to to become more involved in the city.

"I've always been involved in the city, and when (City Councilor) Brian Kirby left the race, I thought it would be a golden opportunity to become involved in it again," he said. "It would keep me busy and interested."

Viveiros, who runs the Whistle Stop, a snack bar and ticket office at the MBTA station, said his business experience will be useful in the clerk's job.

"It's an office with employees, and I'm a businessman with employees; it's an office that deals with the public, and I deal with the public every day," he said.

Viveiros wants to open the clerk's office on Saturday mornings to make it more accessible for two-worker families who can't get there during normal city hall hours.

"I'd staff it myself and it wouldn't require an increase in the clerk's budget," he said.

He would continue Flood's effort to preserve old city records.

In the meantime, he believes his political experience, which includes a failed run for tax collector in 2005, gives him an edge on the campaign trail.

Viveiros already has a network of supporters.

But on the other hand, sometimes having a familiar face is a disadvantage, he said.

"Sometimes people say, 'He's done his service,' it's time for somebody else,' " Viveiros said.

GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.