Carroll County voters will be asked to choose between an experienced person and a newcomer to politics as the next county treasurer. The job to handle all county funds and balance the county checkbook is an important one. The treasurer works in conjunction with the county's auditor, assessor and taxpayers almost on a daily basis.

Voters will choose between incumbent, Republican Jane Brewington and Democrat challenger Pamela Mansfield. Both candidates sat down with the Comet to answer questions and express their views. Pam Mansfield, a newcomer to politics

Pam Mansfield said she is running a positive campaign that is not about what the incumbent is doing wrong. Instead she wants voters to know what she can offer to the county in the t r e a s u r e r 's office.

"It's a great time in my life. My kids are grown, I want to get involved," she stated. "I just felt it was time to make a change in my life and in the Democrat party. I know I can do just as good a job as the present treasurer."

Mansfield graduated from Delphi High School in 1968 and has spent most of her life in Carroll County.

Mansfield said she has a good knowledge of what the job involves. She attended Indiana Business College after high school. She said her 13 years as the treasurer at Delphi Middle School has prepared her well to take over in January.

"This is a great opportunity for me," Mansfield said. "The treasurer is the custodian of the county's money."

Mansfield said if elected she wants to make the treasurer's office accessible to taxpayers by making tax records available online. She would also like for property owners to be able to pay their taxes online.

Another change Mansfield suggested would be to consider keeping the treasurer's office open evenings during tax time. She said she would like to provide access to the office two Saturdays prior to tax deadline.

Mansfield said she attends Indiana State Board of Accounts workshops every year in her current position and understands how being open at tax time would improve the taxpayer's ability to make deadlines.

The 56-year-old married mother of three said she doesn't have all the answers, but that doesn't daunt her.

"I realize I've got a lot to learn," she said. "But I'm just not afraid to ask questions."

"I came from a large family and we were taught to be responsible. It wasn't a choice," Mansfield added. "I am very grateful I was taught those things."

Mansfield said she has not formally supervised staff, but in her lengthy experience in the Delphi School Corporation position, she has trained others and been responsible for an office.

"I would expect anyone working in my office to take responsibility for their work, like I do," she said. "I cannot sit - I like to keep busy."

Mansfield said if elected, she would evaluate employees' workload in the office.

"We're all getting paid to work," she said. "It would be a real good time to look at what every person does in the office. If I can save the county money, that would be great," she added.

Mansfield described her campaign as 'relaxed.'

"I feel like a lot of people know me and they know I have integrity," she said. I plan to get to as many doors and let people meet me to get to know me as I can. I've learned a lot and met so many wonderful people."

"This has been a very positive experience," Mansfield said. "I won't listen to gossip. The best way to curb gossip is to just not listen."

Mansfield encouraged voters to contact her at her home, (765) 564-2766.

"I'm willing to answer as many questions as I can," she said. "If I don't know the answer, I will get it!" Jane Brewington: Just vote - that's your right!

Jane Brewington has been Carroll County treasurer for the past four years. Before that she was first deputy under former treasurer Barb C h a p m a n . B r e w i n g t o n said she never ran for a political office prior to 2002.

"I don't want to be political," Brewington said. "I'm going to try to work with what I've got," she added when asked about the decision by the county council to not fund a second-deputy position for 2005 and beyond.

"Now only two people know the answers to questions. You never know what's going to need to be done," she continued. "Sometimes the doors are closed for lunches and banking errands when one of us is on vacation," she said. "There have been no complaints about that though."

Brewington said many things in her office are mandated by the state, which limits her power to make adjustments in the workings of the office.

"There's nothing I can change," she said. "We do fill out a cash sheet everyday now, and that wasn't done before. And we put everything into an excel spreadsheet for tracking."

Brewington explained the treasurer balances the county checkbook. She said she works in concert with the auditor who writes checks and receives all county money. All money matters go to the treasurer's office for processing.

"It's kind of a checks and balances situation for the county," she said.

The 55-year-old Flora resident supervises one full-time deputy and six part-time workers. Only one of the six is a weekly employee. The others are seasonal.

Brewington said she would not change the treasurer's office hours of operation if re-elected. She said the measure was previously attempted and not enough people visited the office to warrant the change.

Brewington would rather run for the office unopposed, but said there are some advantages to the competition.

"It's easier to not be opposed, but it makes you work harder," she said. "Having opposition makes you realize you can't take everything for granted. I want the job and she does, too." Brewington said she does not have to account for her time spent in the office because she is an elected official, but she puts in full days for the county.

"An elected official answers to the voters every four years," she said. "As an elected official, you are in charge of your office and what goes on there."

Brewington welcomes calls from voters at her home number, (574) 967-4738.

Brewington urged voters to exercise their right to cast a vote for their chosen candidate by simply saying, "Just vote - that's your right!"