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Treasurer, former treasurer face off in Democratic primary
By Jeffrey M. Salem
Clay County Democrats will decide in the primary election Tuesday, Aug. 5 whether to send its current treasurer or select a former treasurer to represent the party in the general election in November.
Current Treasurer Sheila Snell Ernzen is vying for her second term against Carol McCaslin, a former treasurer herself.
McCaslin served six years as the county treasurer before vacating the post only after she was elected Clay County presiding commissioner in 2002. Snell Ernzen was appointed to fill McCaslin’s post as treasurer, and Snell Ernzen was later elected to her first four-year term in 2004.
In her time as treasurer, Snell Ernzen said she has implemented new ways of thinking to make her office more successful than it was in previous years.
Snell Ernzen used the example of processing juror checks to make her point. The checks used to come directly from the circuit clerk office and had to be typed out manually, something that took three or four days, she said. Snell Ernzen changed that process, and they are now filed electronically through technology the auditor’s office already had before she came to the treasurer’s office.
Additionally, Snell Ernzen, a certified public accountant, conducted a study three years ago that looked at the previous five years of the county’s cash flow history. Those trends helped her office project what would happen with the county’s finances in future years.
“That is important so I could invest the county’s money for a longer amount of time to get a better return,” she said.
Last year, more than $1 million in investment income was generated, Snell Ernzen said. In 2003, the county made $269,000 from investments.
Snell Ernzen touted her CPA status and said it was critical for the county treasurer to have that title.
“Someone that doesn’t have that public accounting knowledge … they won’t even have the knowledge to come up with the ideas that can make the treasurer’s office more efficient,” she said.
McCaslin, who is not a CPA, said that title was not important to being successful as the county treasurer. McCaslin was the treasurer from 1997 until 2002 when she became presiding commissioner. McCaslin noted her six years of experience as treasurer as enough of a qualification.
McCaslin was defeated in her bid for a second term as presiding commissioner in the 2006 primary by current commissioner Ed Quick. She said that had she not been elected a first time to the commissioner’s seat, she would have liked to have remained in the treasurer role and said it was something she enjoyed.
“I still have something to offer Clay County,” she said.
The winner between Snell Ernzen and McCaslin will face Republican Bill Doores in the Nov. 4 general election. Doores was unsuccessful in his bid in 2006 for the Clay County collector seat.
Staff writer Jeffrey M. Salem can be reached at 389-6653 or jeffsalem@npgco.com.
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Current Treasurer Sheila Snell Ernzen is vying for her second term against Carol McCaslin, a former treasurer herself.
McCaslin served six years as the county treasurer before vacating the post only after she was elected Clay County presiding commissioner in 2002. Snell Ernzen was appointed to fill McCaslin’s post as treasurer, and Snell Ernzen was later elected to her first four-year term in 2004.
In her time as treasurer, Snell Ernzen said she has implemented new ways of thinking to make her office more successful than it was in previous years.
Snell Ernzen used the example of processing juror checks to make her point. The checks used to come directly from the circuit clerk office and had to be typed out manually, something that took three or four days, she said. Snell Ernzen changed that process, and they are now filed electronically through technology the auditor’s office already had before she came to the treasurer’s office.
Additionally, Snell Ernzen, a certified public accountant, conducted a study three years ago that looked at the previous five years of the county’s cash flow history. Those trends helped her office project what would happen with the county’s finances in future years.
“That is important so I could invest the county’s money for a longer amount of time to get a better return,” she said.
Last year, more than $1 million in investment income was generated, Snell Ernzen said. In 2003, the county made $269,000 from investments.
Snell Ernzen touted her CPA status and said it was critical for the county treasurer to have that title.
“Someone that doesn’t have that public accounting knowledge … they won’t even have the knowledge to come up with the ideas that can make the treasurer’s office more efficient,” she said.
McCaslin, who is not a CPA, said that title was not important to being successful as the county treasurer. McCaslin was the treasurer from 1997 until 2002 when she became presiding commissioner. McCaslin noted her six years of experience as treasurer as enough of a qualification.
McCaslin was defeated in her bid for a second term as presiding commissioner in the 2006 primary by current commissioner Ed Quick. She said that had she not been elected a first time to the commissioner’s seat, she would have liked to have remained in the treasurer role and said it was something she enjoyed.
“I still have something to offer Clay County,” she said.
The winner between Snell Ernzen and McCaslin will face Republican Bill Doores in the Nov. 4 general election. Doores was unsuccessful in his bid in 2006 for the Clay County collector seat.
Staff writer Jeffrey M. Salem can be reached at 389-6653 or jeffsalem@npgco.com.