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Clay County treasurer candidate profiles
Clay County Treasurer Sheila Snell Ernzen will face former presiding commissioner Carol McCaslin in the Democratic primary for county treasurer, set for Tuesday, Aug. 5. The lone filer on the Republican side is Kearney resident Bill Doores. The winners of each primary will face off in the Nov. 4 general election. The winner will serve a four-year term. The candidate’s responses to the following questions were edited for length and clarity.
Bill Doores
Address and length of residency: has lived in Kearney for eight years
Occupation: production specialist, Océ
Education: associate degree
Public offices you have held, including dates of service: none
Organizations, boards, committees, etc., served on: none
Marital status and children: married to Sandy, one child
1. Why are you running for this office?
I want to get more involved in the direction of Clay County’s future.”
2. What do your county’s residents need most from their elected officials?
Information, accountability and trust.”
3. What do you think are the three major issues facing your county?
Corporate expansion in Clay County: Closer relationship to develop short- and long-term plan.
Infrastructure (schools, roads and utilities): Long term planning is needed (see above ) to insure success.
Political nonsense: Open forums. The county needs to create an online forum for county residents to discuss county issues that impact all.
4. What is your view of your county’s current direction?
Clay County’s current direction is heavily swayed by political influence. I believe the direction is dictated by political heavies, instead of doing what’s best for the taxpayers.
5. Is there anything else you would like to add about your candidacy?
n/a
Sheila Snell Ernzen
Address and length of residency: lifetime Clay County resident
Occupation: Clay County treasurer
Education: Bachelor of Science in accounting, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1996; licensed certified public accountant; North Kansas City High School class of 1990
Public offices held: Clay County treasurer, January 2003 to present
Organizations, boards, committees, etc., served on: Missouri County Treasurers Association, Missouri Society of Accountants, Church of the Annunciation, Kearney Middle School Parent Teacher Organization, Dogwood Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, Northland Coalition, Kearney-Holt Community 2000
Marital status and children: married to Justin Ernzen, three children
1. Why are you running for this office?
I have enjoyed using my experience and knowledge as a certified public accountant to serve my county for the past six years as Clay County treasurer. I want to continue using my education, qualifications and experience to identify additional ways to improve and increase efficiency in the Treasurer’s office
2. What do your county’s residents need most from their elected officials?
Clay County residents need elected officials in county government that are qualified individuals who come to work and work with other elected officials together in a professional, ethical manner to make Clay County government operate efficiently and seamlessly. The needs of Clay County residents should always be put first.
3. What do you think are the three major issues facing Clay County?
The three major issues facing the Clay County treasurer’s office set by state law are: Protecting and safeguarding the citizens’ money held by the treasurer’s office is my first priority. This includes ensuring that each payment has been authorized by the proper individuals before it is made and that all funds held by the Clay County treasurer’s office are collateralized. Secondly, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are available at the time they are needed to pay Clay County government obligations. As treasurer, I conducted a study of the county’s cash flow history to allow the treasurer’s office to ensure that taxpayer dollars are available to pay the county’s bills and obligations. Thirdly, investing taxpayer dollars that are not needed for immediate day-to-day government operations will ensure Clay County tax dollars are working for the taxpayers. Each dollar of investment income earned is a dollar that taxpayers will not have to pay.
4. What is your view of Clay County’s current direction?
The treasurer’s office has made great improvements over the past six years. A new investment program has been implemented that earned more than $1 million for Clay County taxpayers in 2007 at a 6.25 percent rate of return, and improvements in efficiency and streamlining processes have allowed new duties and responsibilities to be added to the treasurer’s office, saving taxpayers money.
5. Is there anything else you would like to add about your candidacy?
If you want medical care, you go to a doctor. If you want legal advice, you go to an attorney. If you want your money safeguarded and to be put to work for you, you go to a financial professional, like a certified public accountant.
Carol McCaslin
Address: Kansas City North
Occupation: self-employed
Education: associate degree, Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods; graduate of Oak Park High School
Public offices held: Clay County treasurer, 1997 to 2002; Clay County presiding commissioner, 2003 to 2006
Marital status and children: married to Dale McCaslin, two children
1. Why are you running for this office?
To continuing being a good public servant for the people of Clay County.
2. What do your county’s residents need most from their elected officials?
To listen and be honest.
3. What do you think are the three major issues facing Clay County?
1. Maintaining services in spite of increasing fuel costs.
2. Maintaining sales tax funding.
3. The upcoming sunset of the Law Enforcement Tax. Every office in the county must be more efficient and creative to cut costs.
4. What is your view of Clay County’s current direction?
There is always room to improve and plans must be made to move the County through difficult economic times.
5. Is there anything else you would like to add about your candidacy?
n/a
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Bill Doores
Address and length of residency: has lived in Kearney for eight years
Occupation: production specialist, Océ
Education: associate degree
Public offices you have held, including dates of service: none
Organizations, boards, committees, etc., served on: none
Marital status and children: married to Sandy, one child
1. Why are you running for this office?
I want to get more involved in the direction of Clay County’s future.”
2. What do your county’s residents need most from their elected officials?
Information, accountability and trust.”
3. What do you think are the three major issues facing your county?
Corporate expansion in Clay County: Closer relationship to develop short- and long-term plan.
Infrastructure (schools, roads and utilities): Long term planning is needed (see above ) to insure success.
Political nonsense: Open forums. The county needs to create an online forum for county residents to discuss county issues that impact all.
4. What is your view of your county’s current direction?
Clay County’s current direction is heavily swayed by political influence. I believe the direction is dictated by political heavies, instead of doing what’s best for the taxpayers.
5. Is there anything else you would like to add about your candidacy?
n/a
Sheila Snell Ernzen
Address and length of residency: lifetime Clay County resident
Occupation: Clay County treasurer
Education: Bachelor of Science in accounting, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1996; licensed certified public accountant; North Kansas City High School class of 1990
Public offices held: Clay County treasurer, January 2003 to present
Organizations, boards, committees, etc., served on: Missouri County Treasurers Association, Missouri Society of Accountants, Church of the Annunciation, Kearney Middle School Parent Teacher Organization, Dogwood Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, Northland Coalition, Kearney-Holt Community 2000
Marital status and children: married to Justin Ernzen, three children
1. Why are you running for this office?
I have enjoyed using my experience and knowledge as a certified public accountant to serve my county for the past six years as Clay County treasurer. I want to continue using my education, qualifications and experience to identify additional ways to improve and increase efficiency in the Treasurer’s office
2. What do your county’s residents need most from their elected officials?
Clay County residents need elected officials in county government that are qualified individuals who come to work and work with other elected officials together in a professional, ethical manner to make Clay County government operate efficiently and seamlessly. The needs of Clay County residents should always be put first.
3. What do you think are the three major issues facing Clay County?
The three major issues facing the Clay County treasurer’s office set by state law are: Protecting and safeguarding the citizens’ money held by the treasurer’s office is my first priority. This includes ensuring that each payment has been authorized by the proper individuals before it is made and that all funds held by the Clay County treasurer’s office are collateralized. Secondly, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are available at the time they are needed to pay Clay County government obligations. As treasurer, I conducted a study of the county’s cash flow history to allow the treasurer’s office to ensure that taxpayer dollars are available to pay the county’s bills and obligations. Thirdly, investing taxpayer dollars that are not needed for immediate day-to-day government operations will ensure Clay County tax dollars are working for the taxpayers. Each dollar of investment income earned is a dollar that taxpayers will not have to pay.
4. What is your view of Clay County’s current direction?
The treasurer’s office has made great improvements over the past six years. A new investment program has been implemented that earned more than $1 million for Clay County taxpayers in 2007 at a 6.25 percent rate of return, and improvements in efficiency and streamlining processes have allowed new duties and responsibilities to be added to the treasurer’s office, saving taxpayers money.
5. Is there anything else you would like to add about your candidacy?
If you want medical care, you go to a doctor. If you want legal advice, you go to an attorney. If you want your money safeguarded and to be put to work for you, you go to a financial professional, like a certified public accountant.
Carol McCaslin
Address: Kansas City North
Occupation: self-employed
Education: associate degree, Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods; graduate of Oak Park High School
Public offices held: Clay County treasurer, 1997 to 2002; Clay County presiding commissioner, 2003 to 2006
Marital status and children: married to Dale McCaslin, two children
1. Why are you running for this office?
To continuing being a good public servant for the people of Clay County.
2. What do your county’s residents need most from their elected officials?
To listen and be honest.
3. What do you think are the three major issues facing Clay County?
1. Maintaining services in spite of increasing fuel costs.
2. Maintaining sales tax funding.
3. The upcoming sunset of the Law Enforcement Tax. Every office in the county must be more efficient and creative to cut costs.
4. What is your view of Clay County’s current direction?
There is always room to improve and plans must be made to move the County through difficult economic times.
5. Is there anything else you would like to add about your candidacy?
n/a