Republicans Dale Brewer and Robert Wichlinski are vying to win the party’s nomination for Porter County Treasurer.

The winner of the May 6 Republican primary will face Democrat Porter County Council member Michael Bucko in the fall general election. Bucko is unopposed in the Democrat primary.

The post of county treasurer currently pays $51,869. The office is responsible for issuing property tax bills, investing county funds, collecting the innkeepers tax and other duties.

Both Republicans have held elected office: Brewer was county clerk until her term expired at the end of 2007. Wichlinski previously was Porter Township Trustee.

Both candidates were asked to respond to the following questions. Their answers are printed as submitted, unless they were edited to meet the 100 word limit.

1. What are your qualifications to serve as Porter County Treasurer?

Brewer: “Having worked almost 23 years in county government gives me the most experience of any candidate. Fourteen years as Executive Deputy Auditor dealing with the responsibilities of the tax settlement, abstract, tax duplicate, budgets and all reporting requirements for taxes. Working closely with the Treasurer and Assessors offices, delivering your tax bills on time without paying consultants $250.00 an hour. Eight years as Clerk of the Circuit Court running a successful office under very stringent financial conditions with the work getting done also without a consultants fee of $250.00 an hour.”

Wichlinski: “I have 17 years of computer-based fund accounting experience and served as an elected official for 4 years. I encourage you to review my credentials on line at www.bob08.com

2: If elected, what would be your top priority as treasurer?

Brewer: “Keeping this office running smoothly and not passing off the duties to another office that can not get the work they have now done and at the same time using my knowledge of the tax system to help get the tax bills out on time. We save money when the work gets done properly and on time.”

Wichlinski: “I intend to shepherd the process of eliminating the Office of County Treasurer vesting the authority of the office in the County Auditor.”

3: What improvements are needed to get Porter County tax bills out on time consistently?

Brewer: “We need someone who knows the tax system and how it works. Someone willing to put in the time and effort to understand all of the changes taking place and implement them. Someone we do not have to pay a salary to and also pay a consultant to do the job for them.”

Wichlinski: “Reduce the possibility for bickering among elected officials responsible for completing the task by eliminating one of the officials involved. The expense and anxiety associated with the delay attributable to a disagreement between elected officials concerning the choice of software is and was incredible .... With trending and transition to market value behind us, among the challenges which remain are full implementation of the new software and transition associated with elimination of Township Assessors. That process can be orderly or wrought with political contention. I would expect my professional experience and credentials to be useful until the Office of Treasurer is eliminated.”

Posted 4/22/2008