As a small business owner with over two decades of management experience, I know how to balance a checkbook and lead a team—this experience is critical when it comes to balancing Kentucky’s checkbook, managing unclaimed property and maximizing the efficiency of the office.

The biggest opportunity for the next Treasurer to have an impact is through serving on seven key boards--including the Lottery, Teachers Retirement, Student Loan Corporation and State Investment Commission. These boards make real decisions about how we spend taxpayer dollars, and Kentuckians need a Treasurer to engage in these issues. My strong track record as a business leader and an active community board member gives me the tools to be a strong advocate and a fierce watchdog for Kentucky students, seniors, teachers and all taxpayers.^[5]

Helping stabilize the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System is the critical challenge facing our next Treasurer. Protecting the commitments we’ve made to retired teachers while finding a sustainable path forward requires a Treasurer with extensive experience balancing a checkbook and meeting the fiscal responsibilities of a large organization. I will fight to protect both the teachers and taxpayers as we reform the system.^[5]

The first priority for the Treasurer has to be managing the day to day responsibilities: balancing the checkbook and returning unclaimed property. I’ll do this in an effective, transparent way, giving Kentuckians honest answers about where their tax dollars go. The independently-elected Treasurer can and should be a watchdog and advocate on behalf of the people of Kentucky.

Next, we must find a solution to our pension problems, and this starts with finding a path forward on teachers’ retirement. The Treasurer can’t do it alone, but I will work to find a real and lasting solution—and as an independently elected official, I’ll use the independent office and independent platform to bring people together and take action.^[5]

As your next Treasurer, I will certainly use technology to streamline the day-to-day duties of the office. More importantly, technology today can be used to enhance public awareness and ensure transparency. We should invest in fraud protection software and real time, public, online access to Kentucky’s checkbook so we can hold our leaders accountable for their spending decisions.^[5]

I was mayor of Jeffersonville from 2003-2007. As mayor, I managed a $2 million dollar budget that included the water company, parks system, road system, senior citizens and economic development. I served as state representative from the 74th district including Montgomery, Powell and Wolfe counties from 2007-2014. I served on:

• Member,House Appropriations and Revenue Committee (4 years)
• Member,House Budget Sub-Committee on Transportation (6 years)
• Vice chair,House Agriculture and Small Business Committee (8 years)
• Co-chairman, House Energy Committee (2 years)

^[5]

There are three very important issues facing the next state treasurer: Accountability of monies spent, serving on all boards looking out for the stakeholders and citizens first.^[5]

My plan is to set up permanent regional volunteer offices for unclaimed property and also add updated quarterly printouts of unclaimed property to send out to county office holders, city officials, state representatives, senators, civic groups and community activists in hopes of returning most if not all property to our citizens of this great commonwealth.^[5]

The office of state treasurer should never be eliminated. This office gives a separation of powers within the executive branch of state government. If it is abolished then it would become a governor appointed position. Therefore not saving any money. It could also allow the unclaimed property be swept up by the executive or legislative budgets and used to fill in shortfalls in revenue instead of being returned to its rightful owners. Your future treasurer should fight for this position to remain a constitutional office.^[5]

I feel that I am the most qualified candidate for state Treasurer by virtue of both my integrity, experience and common sense in private business, public administration and legislative experience. I have owned and operated seven private companies and supervised and employed over 150 people. As a state cabinet deputy secretary and Commissioner I have supervised over 2,000 state employees and 11 divisions while at the same time basically serving as a CEO, a CFO and CAO of the cabinet all uniquely qualifying me to serve as the Commonwealth's Treasurer. In every instance the budget was balanced and the businesses were profitable.^[5]

There are really two important issues facing the next state Treasurer. One is the constitutional obligation to be the public's 'watchdog' over the state's treasury. The Treasurer should be constantly vigilant on behalf of the taxpayer and do everything in the power of the office to be as transparent and see that the public has eyes on where every tax dollar is spent. Second, the state Treasurer sits on the investment boards for all the state sponsored and backed pension systems. It is imperative that the Treasurer take an active role of leadership in that capacity and in concert with the General Assembly and the Finance Cabinet make much wiser investment decisions based on sound judgement, experience and common financial sense.^[5]

First of all I would show up for work and not be trying to use the office for political ladder climbing. I would bring 40+ years of private, public and legislative experience to the office for the benefit of all the citizens and taxpayers of Kentucky and provide a level of openness and transparency that has been so lacking heretofore. I will especially view with a critical eye the warrants issued for state checks especially those of a 'no-bid' or personal service contract nature.^[5]

I am completely opposed to any and all efforts to abolish the office is state Treasurer. The Treasurer was put into the state's Constitution as the public's safeguard and watchdog over the public's monies and treasurey. The functions of the office would still have to be done and I can't foresee any savings in dollars or staffing requirements. I truly believe it is the public's best interest to have an elected Treasurer that keeps a check and balance within the Executive officers of the Commonwealth. The potential for abuse or corruption would be astronomically higher if the Treasurer's duties were placed under an appointee who would serve at the pleasure of a Governor rather than elected by the public. I really believe it is in the public interest that the Treasurer write the Governor's paycheck rather than the Governor's writing the Treasurer's paycheck.^[5]

I believe I am the most qualified because of my 15 year general assembly experience. Every two years we vote on multi-billion dollar budgets, and my 29 year career as a public school teacher gives me the experience to be able to manage employees and planning.^[5]

The treasurer sits on the Kentucky Teachers Retirement Board that represents over 165,000 active and retired teachers. The system is now at 53% funded. Work needs to be done to address that situation.^[5]

Make sure that the office spends its budget wisely. I also plan on visiting each Kentucky high school to teach classes on financial literacy, which the treasurer office is responsible for.^[5]

It would be a bad idea. If the governor appointed the treasurer they could order them to do as that governor wanted concerning money matters. The treasurer needs to be independent to be a watchdog for the taxpayers.^[5]

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