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1.) Can you briefly summarize why you decided to run for reelection as Southampton County treasurer?

I decided to run for reelection as Southampton County Treasurer because I have accomplished many things in my four year tenure which need to be continued by me to have the most efficiently run office. In other words, my education and experience as Treasurer have well prepared me as the best candidate for the position. 

2.) What experience and achievements would you cite that support your bid as being the best candidate to serve as the county’s treasurer?

The experience and achievements that bid me as being the best candidate to serve as the county’s Treasurer are numerous. When I took office in 2020 I started allowing payment plans for Real Estate and the Solid Waste Fee in addition to payment plans for Personal Property.  There were many citizens who were unaware that they could prepay on all their taxes and the Solid Waste Fee. My Deputy Treasurers and I advise the taxpayers of their options to make a payment plan and to pre-pay their taxes. We let the public know that by making a payment plan with my office and making those payments it will save them the cost of collections. I have brought the Business License Fees up to date by collecting multiple years of delinquent licenses fees. No one gets a Business License unless they have paid for every year that they were delinquent. I have collected delinquent Meals Taxes from several years, some of which dated back to 2016. Meals Taxes are known as “Trust Taxes” and must be paid every month based on the previous month’s meals sales.  

I have purged numerous years’ worth of old files based on the Virginia Library of Congress state retention schedule.

I have an unprecedented tax and fee collection percentage rate.  This is extremely important as the funds are needed and expected to meet the budget that the Board of Supervisors has approved.   

I earned my Master Governmental Treasurer Certification through the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.  Once you receive certification, you must annually meet future requirements in order to keep your certification.  I have maintained certificated every year during my tenure.

I am a member of the Treasurer’s Association of Virginia.

I have had a clean audit annually through the auditing firm of Creedle, Jones, & Associates.

My office has received accreditation every year I have served as Treasurer. Additionally, I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration & Communication from Old Dominion University.

3.) What do you believe are the most important qualities of a good treasurer?

I believe the most important qualities of a good Treasurer are honesty, fairness, respect, great customer service, well educated, and highly experienced.

4.) If elected, what goals do you hope to achieve in your new term?

If elected, I plan to continue to meet the high standards I have established such as collecting and keeping the Business License Fees and Meals Taxes paid up to date. I will continue to educate taxpayers on all options available to assist them with making their payments in a timely manner. I will continue to maintain the highest collection rate possible by using all the tools the Commonwealth of Virginia has put at my disposal for collecting. I will continue my education in order to meet the annual requirements for certification. My Deputy Treasurers will continue to be educated as well. Just to recapture, I plan to continue with great customer service while maintaining high collection rates, keeping my certification, and achieving office accreditation every year.

5.) Is there anything that has been said about you by your opponent or others during the campaign that you would like to directly counter or respond to in this space? 

I believe in running a clean campaign. It has been my focus to educate the citizens on what I have done while in office and what I plan to do if reelected. My education, experience, and goals speak well of me.