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Measure would make county pick treasurer BY CHRIS BRISTOL Jackson County voters will soon decide whether they want to keep voting for a treasurer. County commissioners believe the job should be filled by appointment because it is not political in nature and requires expertise in investments. To do so, however, would require a change in the county charter -- something that has not happened since the charter took effect in 1979. On Wednesday, the commissioners took the plunge, referring a measure for the November ballot that would remove the treasurer as an elective office and permanently merge it with the appointive office of finance director. The reason, they say, is simple: Even though the treasurer has evolved over the years into what is essentially the county's investment manager, handling a portfolio that sometimes exceeds $100 million, nearly anybody can run for the office. Proponents of the measure, including the Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters, say the job is too important to leave to an amateur. As it stands now, the charter requires only that a candidate be an American citizen age 18 or older who has lived in the county for at least one year. "I'm convinced we need someone qualified in that position," said Commissioner Jack Walker, "rather than someone who's good at getting elected." "This (position) is not a political or policy function," added Commissioner Sue Kupillas. "It requires some knowledge about investments." The impetus for change dates back to 1993, when a task force recommended voters be given a chance to abolish certain elective offices, particularly treasurer and surveyor. The panel's recommendations were part of a larger audit to find ways to streamline government and save money. Other elective offices include the sheriff, clerk, assessor and the commissioners themselves. The district attorney is a state officer, even though the county underwrites most of the DA's budget. None of those positions is being discussed for appointment. In 1995, after the resignation of then-Treasurer Mary Jamison for health reasons, the commissioners handed the treasurer's job to Finance Director Gary Cadle. He ran unopposed in 1997 and still retains both titles. As director of finance, Cadle oversees accounting, payroll and purchasing. As treasurer, he administers a short-term investment portfolio that fluctuates from $75 million to more than $100 million. "These positions are really different sides of the same coins," he said, noting that combining the two positions also saves the county more than $42,000 a year in personnel costs. Seven of Oregon's 36 counties have already made the treasurer an appointed position, Cadle said. Among them are Multnomah, the state's most populous, and several smaller counties such as Hood River and Umatilla. In addition, a 1995 survey showed that 81 percent of more than 1,300 government districts in the United States and Canada left investment management to appointed officials. If voters understand what the treasurer really does, they will probably support the change, commissioners said. "How many times have you heard a (treasurer) candidate take a hard-line political stand, other than `I'm going to invest your money wisely"'? asked Kupillas. "Taking away the public's right to vote for treasurer is really not taking much away from them." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA