YOUR AD HERE »

Three Republicans interviewed for interim treasurer post

Patrick Parkinson, Of the Record staff

Summit County will have a new treasurer in June.

The County Council on Wednesday interviewed three Republicans who are vying to replace former Summit County Treasurer Glen Thompson. Thompson, a Republican, retired in April.

State law allowed the Summit County Republican Party to suggest three people to replace Thompson.

The three applicants from the Park City area are Henry Glasheen, Mike Howard and Richard Motto.

Glasheen, chairman of the Summit County Republican Party, is also currently a candidate in the treasurer race in November. Motto is a candidate in the race for Summit County clerk.

Summit County Councilman John Hanrahan, a Democrat, said naming Glasheen or Motto as interim treasurer may give one of the Republicans an unfair advantage in the November election.

With voters set to select a treasurer on Election Day, the interim treasurer will serve until January, when the new official is scheduled to be sworn in.

"An incumbent has a significant advantage in an election," Hanrahan said. "If we select someone who is an existing candidate for office, we are creating an incumbency, which in some way negates the voters in November."

Glasheen faces Park City Democrat Corrie Kirklen in the treasurer race. Motto is challenging incumbent Summit County Clerk Kent Jones, a Democrat.

The treasurer is the elected official in the County Courthouse who monitors receiving and accounting for all Summit County funds. The treasurer also assists in borrowing and investing money for the county.

Glasheen, an investment adviser, said he is the best qualified applicant

.

"Not only am I the most qualified in the interim race, I’m the most qualified in the general election," said Glasheen in a telephone interview. "I’m an economist. I can go in there, look at the portfolio that we have constructed, meet with the investment adviser and make a determination if any changes need to be made."

The treasurer has flexibility when making investment decisions for the county, Glasheen stressed.

"We have various different types of investments," Glasheen said. "Some of that can get dicey."

Meanwhile, Howard is the owner of an information technology consulting firm.

He hopes to ramp up his service to the community by working as interim treasurer for the next six months.

"I have been involved in serving my local community in Jeremy Ranch," Howard said. "I started thinking about possibly stepping that up a notch."

Councilwoman Sally Elliott, a Democrat, said employees in the County Courthouse became a close-knit team under Thompson’s watch.

"One of my strengths, I feel, is putting people at ease," Howard replied.

Howard is the only interim treasurer applicant who is not seeking political office this year.

"Where it’s only a short-term appointment, my philosophy is to really continue for the next six months with the policies that Mr. Thompson has already established," Howard said.

He was asked about his experience with accounting and managing cash flow.

"I have a lot of experience in collecting from various different clients," Howard said. "Everything is a debit or a credit. So I feel like I could manage that."

The third candidate, Motto, is an architect who owns his own firm.

"I know about most of the vehicles of investing," Motto told councilpersons.

However, he admitted to never investing someone else’s money.

It is unusual for an architect to pursue a treasurer post, Summit County Councilman Chris Robinson, a Democrat, said.

"It seems as sort of a non sequitur to now want this financial job," Robinson told Motto.

Motto said he has plenty of time to serve as interim treasurer because he owns his business.

"The key is to be safe with the money and keep it secure until the next election," Motto said.

Summit County Councilwoman Claudia McMullin, a Democrat, praised the local Republican Party for suggesting three viable candidates.

"You could have easily proffered one viable candidate and two doorstops," McMullin said.

"I know all three of these individuals quite well," Summit County Councilman David Ure added. "I like all three of them immensely."

Ure is the only councilmember who is a Republican.

News


See more

Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Park City and Summit County make the Park Record's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.