Jefferson County voters will choose a new treasurer in the Nov. 8 general election.
The current treasurer, Democrat Linda Nees, chose not to seek a second four-year term. Nees, a longtime employee of the Treasurer’s Office, was appointed to replace Mark Abel, who died in March 2011 in the middle of his first term, and then was elected in 2012.
Seeking to replace her are Republican Paula Wagner of Festus, the chief deputy treasurer under Nees, and Democrat Dorothy Stafford, who served for 20 years as the county’s auditor before she was defeated in November 2014 by Richard Carter III.
The treasurer is paid $81,149 per year and serves a four-year term.
STAFFORD, 61, lives at 11 Kimberwicke Court, Festus. She is married to Stan Tucker. She is a member of the YMCA Board of Advisors and a member of the Twin City Optimist Club.
WAGNER, 49, lives at 11218 Argonne Road, Festus. She and her husband, Thomas, have three children and seven grandchildren.
A graduate of Hillsboro High School, Wagner started work for the county in 1997 as a part-time housekeeper while she took accounting courses at Jefferson College. In 1999, she was hired as an accounts payable clerk in the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office. In 2005, she moved to the Auditor’s Office and then in 2011 to the Treasurer’s Office. She is a member of Sandy Baptist Church, where she has been treasurer since 2002.
Social media: Facebook: Paula Wagner for Treasurer
What are the treasurer’s duties? Why are you qualified to carry them out?
Stafford: Simply put, the treasurer is the county financial manager and keeps the county’s checkbook. The Treasurer’s Office receives money on behalf of the county, invests that money and when presented with sufficient documentation, writes checks for the county. For 20 years as the auditor, I was responsible for establishing and reviewing internal controls for each of the offices of county government, including the Treasurer’s Office.
Wagner: Duties include receipting all money brought into the county through our financial system, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, ensuring the county is receiving the highest return on operating and investment money and balancing the county’s bank accounts and various investments. I have the experience in the daily activities of the office and in investing county funds. I have been through the bank bid process and understand how to ensure the county is receiving the best return for our money. On a monthly basis, I help balance the four financial institutions currently used by the county to the general ledger.
What changes, if any, are needed to improve the efficiency of this office?
Stafford: The most important aspect to improving any office is to refuse to be complacent. Change occurs daily and we must embrace it to ensure we are providing the level of service our residents expect. Residents have a right to know that county government is working for them.
Wagner: Since I started working in the Treasurer’s Office, I have made several changes to improve its efficiency by updating spreadsheets, emailing receipts to various offices to ensure they receive their receipts in a timely manner and storing reports electronically to save resources. My knowledge in Crystal Reports (a software program) also saved the Treasurer’s Office time in balancing the various bank accounts at the end of the month.
Should the treasurer’s job continue to be an elected, partisan position? Why or why not?
Stafford: Absolutely. The treasurer must remain independent, answering to no one other than the voters of Jefferson County. The financial well-being of the county cannot be compromised and be dependent upon who appoints or hires the treasurer.
Wagner: The position should continue to be an elected position. The voters should be able to choose who they feel is the best person.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Stafford: For 20 years, I was the financial watchdog for the county, making sure the accounts were balanced and the financial statements were in order. It’s more than simply doing the work; it’s understanding how the work impacts how the county is viewed by the financial markets. My goal is to publish the monthly settlement and financial report for the office.
Wagner: I am the more qualified candidate. I have the experience of working in both the accounts payable department and the Auditor’s Office, which has helped me succeed in my current position. I have a working relationship with those offices and also with our financial institutions. I have to make decisions for the office in the absence of the treasurer. If elected, I would like to implement the positive pay system offered by our financial institution to prevent fraudulent checks from clearing though our account.
Do you support your party’s nominee for president? Explain why or why not.
Stafford: I am a proud American who supports the president of the United States regardless of party affiliation.
Wagner: I support the Republican Party’s nominee for several reasons. He is promising immigration reform, to strengthen our military, create jobs and keep them in America and to make America great again.