VOTE411 Voter Guide

In a word… Growth! The Treasurer’s Office has managed the explosion in the number of land parcels due to development within Delaware County with the current workforce. The stress over the next four years will require this office to explore solutions both in technology and personnel. For example, the number of parcels in Delaware County has nearly doubled from 50,000 to almost 95,000 parcels. Considering just one development may sit on a handful of parcels today. Once zoned and subdivided, that parcel count could grow to 200 or more. Thus, the workload of the Treasurer’s Office will continue to rise.

Additionally, the office should be a better partner to the townships, villages, and municipalities as they work on public funding options.

I have a unique skill set in managing people, processes, and budgets. As a faculty member with Ohio State Continuing Education, I created leadership team-based training for Chase Bank and Nationwide. As a certified Six Sigma Black Belt consultant, I have designed processes for major corporations to build efficiencies without significant cost increases. These skills will be adapted to the Treasurer’s office. They will be a catalyst for a better working environment for other county offices and other (city, villages, and township) partners they serve.

My goal will be to build a Treasurer’s Office team that is an example for other offices in Delaware County to emulate. Your county offices serve all who have a vested interest in Delaware County. The elected leaders of these offices should (must!) do their best to work together to serve the citizens, property owners, and governmental entities. At times, some of these interested parties do not necessarily agree. However, we must do what is just and fair within the limits of the law and help all parties understand the decisions made.

Delaware County needs a treasurer who works collaboratively with the other County Officeholders, such as the County Commissioners. The Treasurer's Office needs to now focus its efforts on the core functions serving the public. As Treasurer, I will make sure that the investment of $750 Million dollars is aligned to the markets and to the needs of the county. In 2023, the treasurer took in $14 million dollars in interest revenue. Had the treasurer invested in STAR Ohio, as we did in Berlin Township, the County would have earned $21 million. That is $7 million that could have been used for taxpayer relief.

The Treasurer's Office needs a treasurer who will follow in the footsteps of Dale Wilgus and Jon Peterson and actually shows up to work.

My experience and skills are well suited for being Delaware County Treasurer. I have a deep understanding of how the County operates having been twice elected as a County Commissioner. I have worked collaboratively with the Commissioners and County Auditor Kaitsas in many different settings. I have experience in governmental budgeting and finance. As Berlin Township Fiscal Officer, I invested Township funds. I also managed and maintained the financial books in compliance with governmental accounting standards. I have experience as a stockbroker. I also have been a member of The Ohio State University Fiscal Committee which made recommendations on the budget for all of Ohio State with the exception of Sports and the Medical Center.

The most important improvement I will make is regarding investments. The investments strategy currently being used is inappropriate for the financial environment of today. Investments should be made for shorter periods of time for three reasons. The first reason is long-term yields are lower than short-term yields. The second reason is that most of the money is from taxes that are collected for other entities such as the schools or 911. Those moneys should be collected and sent on to the entities for their use; not for the County to keep the funds just to make interest. The third reason is that bad investment advice is expensive.

I also will be supportive of our hard-working employees by having meaningful training targeting real needs.

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