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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Treasurer Hopefuls Share Experience

By Laura Nesbitt
Mountain View Telegraph
      Both James Hall and Dorothy Sandoval believe they have the experience to work as Torrance County Treasurer.
       Sandoval has served as county treasurer for eight years, chief deputy treasurer for seven years and collection clerk for eight years.
       “I have a lot to offer. I'm honest, loyal and trustworthy. I have earned respect from the public by treating everyone equally,” said Sandoval, who has a total of 23 years' experience working for the county.
       In fact, Sandoval trained James Hall, her political opponent.
       “I was his chief deputy until September 2007,” Sandoval said.
       Because she is fluent in both Spanish and English and a lifelong resident of the county, Sandoval believes she will be able to understand issues better.
       “They can come to me directly. They won't have to go through a translator. Plus people know who I am because I've been here all my life and they know my family. They can come directly to me. I have an open-door policy where they are welcome to come to me with anything,” Sandoval said.
       Current Treasurer James Hall was elected three years ago in January 2005.
       Hall brought the county finances from a negative balance of $400,000 to a total of $3 million invested, he said.
       “I've got 15 years of experience,” Hall said. He is familiar with different bond processes and is on the county grant committee that monitors grants prior to being presented to the Torrance County Commission for approval.
       “I brought the Internet into the county treasurer's office so people can pay their taxes online,” Hall said.
       Hall also initiated a lock box facility that would handle payments and allow county employees to process payments to the county on a daily basis.
       Hall said if re-elected he plans to take $1 million in county funds to invest in the sheriff's department “so safety will not be a concern,” and another $1 million to invest in roads. How county funds are spent is determined by the Torrance County Commission.
       Hall is grateful to have been hired by former Torrance County Treasurer Marilyn Autrey, who died in March 2006 at age 69 and served as county treasurer for 17 years.
   

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