Waving pie charts and reports in the air, candidates for Island County treasurer squared off over how taxpayer money is invested and reported by the treasurer’s office.

The exchange at a voters forum Tuesday night in Langley was a bellwether of sorts for the November election. Campaigns for county offices have been heating up in recent weeks through an ever increasing flurry of newspaper ads and letters to the editor.

Morrow and Riffe

At the forum, John W. Morrow, the Republican candidate for treasurer, said there are glaring errors in the county’s investment policy. He vowed to correct those problems if elected.

“What I see worries me. The information from the treasurer’s office is inaccurate and misleading,” Morrow said.

Morrow says that Riffe is not in compliance with her own investment policy.

“When you are handling other people’s money, you should know where and how it is being invested,” he said.

Riffe, who was elected in 2002 and sworn in right after the general election when outgoing treasurer Maxine Sauter died, stoutly defended her accomplishments.

“I wrote an investment policy for the county, which means your dollars are being invested wisely. We have earned $1.37 million in the first three quarters of this year,” she said.

“My investment policy received an Investment Policy Certification Award,” Riffe added.

Riffe said besides making the county money, she also saved some, as well.

“Redesigned tax forms have saved the county $3,000, and an additional $1,500 is saved in postage due to bar coding,” she said.

Riffe said she has also developed and wrote the Island County’s Website and made it possible for people to pay taxes online.

Riffe said she also established internal control procedures and expanded information on tax statements.

She said she has also reduced banking fees from $18,757 when she took office to zero.

Morrow had his turn in the hot seat when it came time for questions from the audience.

Morrow was asked whether he had ever invested public funds.

“No. But I have in the private sector and I will bring those principles to the treasurer’s office,” he said.

Morrow was also asked why he entered the race so late. Morrow filed a last-minute application to run for office on Aug. 4.

“This was not decision to be taken lightly,” he said.

“I am leaving a successful business career,” Morrow said. “When is the right time to start a race, when enough is enough.”

Mason and Mattens

The candidates for Island County Assessor are pledging to turn the office around, but using different strategies.

Republican Don Mason, 47, promised

to have the next round of assessments mailed out June 1, 2007. He claims he can fulfill the promise with the system currently being utilized by the assessor.

“I believe we have the talent, technology and the funding in the assessor’s office to get the job done with the existing resources we have,” he said.

Democratic opponent Dave Mattens, 56, is pushing hard for technology that he said will increase productivity and streamline the department.

He said Mason does not grasp the gravity of the technological issue.

“I think you have to be able to understand technology before you can really define what you need,” Mattens said.

“I don’t think he recognizes or has the background to recognize the seriousness of this problem,” Mattens said.

Mason, though, said he saw things that could be changed in the assessor’s office

“Here’s what I think is wrong with the assessor office,” Mason said. “The tax statements were late and there is no customer service from the assessor’s office.”

“The new assessor has to face the challenge of getting them out on time by June 1, and handle all the appeals from people who are unhappy with their latest property assessment,” Mason said.

Mason said he would use existing resources to get the job done.

“The talent, technology and funding already exists in the assessor’s office,” Mason said.

“The computer didn’t mail the tax statement late,” he said.

Mattens disagreed about the usefulness of the office’s current computer system.

“The existing technology has compounded problems and resulted in a hemorrhaging of money,” Mattens said.

He said he has researched a new system that would cost the county about $300,000.

Should the Board of Island County Commissioners deny the purchase of a new system, Mattens said he is still the best person to navigate the old system.

And he said he will implement a fresh style of management in the assessor’s office.

“I will do community outreach, network with other county offices and review what’s wrong with the assessor’s office,” Mattens said.

Bill Byrd and John Dean

District 3 county commissioner candidates Bill Byrd and John Dean discussed issues from technology to transportation.

The two men respectfully disagreed on certain issues.

Byrd, the Republican incumbent, and Dean, the Democratic challenger, sounded off on a variety of issues ranging from I-933 to quality of life issues and morale among employees in county government.

Byrd reviewed his extensive 30-year military career. Following his retirement from the U.S. Navy, he worked for 10 years in Saudi Arabia as the general manager for the Royal Saudi Navy ship repair facility.

Dean, a long-time Camano Island resident, hails from a journalism background and has worked for 25 years for the newspaper in Stanwood as an editor and associate publisher.

“I am 57 and have decided to come out from behind the notebook and to actually work in government service,” Dean said.

Dean said when he was a newspaper editor, “there was a steady stream of people wanting to talk to the editor about different issues.”

“Many felt they were unrepresented at the county. Not just those on Camano but others as well. I am representing that whole group of people who don’t feel they have a voice at the county,” Dean said.

Byrd ran four years ago on four separate issues: traffic safety, local economy, safety and security in homes, and budget.

“With your support, we’ve been able to do that,” he said.

“I don’t do it alone, it takes all three commissioners,” Byrd said.

Both candidates were quizzed on Initiative I-933, the “pay or waive” ballot measure that would set aside land-use rules or compensate property owners when regulations impact the use of their property.

Dean quipped, “If you vote for I-933, vote for Bill.”

“I-933 will undercut our way of life,” he said.

Bryd said he agree with I-933.

“I will vote yes on I-933,” Byrd said.

Byrd said one of the accomplishments he is proud of is providing better communication between the county and the residents of Camano Island.

“District 3 is a difficult district to represent because it is divided between North Whidbey Island and Camano Island,” Byrd said.

Byrd said he maintains regular office hours on Camano, conducts town hall meetings, installed a video conferencing system between the commissioners’ hearing room in Coupeville and the Camano Island county annex, and provides reports of projects and events affecting the citizens of Camano Island.

“Since I’ve been in office I have held public meetings on Camano to keep residents abreast of what we are doing,” Byrd said.

Dean was confronted on his newspaper background during the question-and-answer session, and one person wanted to know how he could overcome media bias to be a good representative.

“I am proud of the Stanwood-Camano News. It is one of the last individually owned papers around. The paper is open to all comers. For the last 25 years I have been an independent. I’ve done things for Republicans, Democrats, the Green Party and the Libertarians,” he said.

“We need a more responsive government,” he said, adding that he would boost morale among county employees.

“I have spent time in the courthouse; some county government offices are dysfunctional,” he said. “There is a huge morale problem in some offices.”

Byrd pointed to his accomplishments during the past four years, but said there is still more to do.

“One term is not enough to get everything done. Continuity is important,” Byrd said.

Banks and Selby

Democratic incumbent Greg Banks is being challenged by his former deputy prosecuting attorney, Republican Steve Selby, for the job of Island County prosecutor.

Banks was well-prepared with facts and a list of accomplishments he has achieved since becoming prosecutor.

Selby, on the other hand, spent much of his time talking about the morale of the prosecutor’s office under Banks’ leadership and the support he has from other county prosecutors and members of the law enforcement community.

“I was asked to run for Island County prosecutor by law enforcement, including some police and all of the prosecutors,” Selby said.

“I have worked closely with law enforcement and I enjoy their support. We trust and respect each other,” Selby said.

Banks said the morale in the prosecutor’s office is in “better than the media would have you believe. We are in very good shape.”

Selby spent most of his opening criticizing his opponent’s management style and court experience, but Selby also took time to stress his own prosecuting experience.

“My experience is double the experience of every other prosecutor in that office combined,” Selby said.

While Banks allowed that he has not tried as many cases as Selby, he said the prosecutor’s job is more than just appearing as a trial lawyer.

“I am a working prosecutor who has tried complex cases, including five homicides. My record as a trial lawyer is good,” Banks said. “But my most important job is steward of the Island County Criminal justice system.”

Selby said the prosecutor’s office can’t do its job under Banks because of bad morale.

“The incumbent is unable to work with others. He has created a situation in the prosecutor’s office where communication was so poor that he had to hire a mediator at $150 per hour so he could talk with people in the office,” Selby said.

Selby said Banks had to close his office on two different occasions to work with the mediator.

“The incumbent has an isolationist approach to management,” Selby said.

Selby said Banks has called people minions slaves, and monkeys.

“Wouldn’t you agree the problem with morale is the prosecutor’s office is you?” Selby asked Banks.

“You have called people names: minions, peons and monkeys. That is not conducive to good morale. I treat people with respect,” Selby said.

On the question of turnover, Banks said 14 deputy prosecutors have left the office during his tenure. He said there is not a lot room for advancement and pay isn’t as high as other places.

“Fourteen going through the office may seem like a lot, but it’s not atypical for a prosecutor’s office,” Banks said.

Banks cited his accomplishments while in office. which included taking “a 1960’s law office to the 1990s.”

“While others were worried about Y2K, the prosecutor’s office was using dictaphones, Rolodex and Selectric typewriters,” he recalled.

“I told the commissioners if they would give me the resources I would modernize the office and I would not ask for more people,” Banks said.

“I have run the office under budget, a tight ship,” Banks said.