Three vie for office of county treasurer

Pittsylvania County voters will pick their next treasurer from among three candidates Tuesday.

The field includes county government veteran Teresa Easley, former Callands-Gretna Supervisor Kate Berger and Chad Miller, a former loan officer who manages a call center at the Division of Motor Vehicles office in Altavista.

This year’s race is a special election to replace former Treasurer Shirley Simpson, who died in May. Former Treasurer Glenn Brown is the interim treasurer, but he said he would not run for the office in this year’s election.

The candidates all appear to agree that strong customer service at the treasurer’s office is the most important issue right now.

Easley, 56, a Chatham resident, said she would bring more customer-friendly service to the treasurer’s office if elected.

“The door will always be open,” Easley said, adding that she would use as much automation as possible to collect delinquent taxes. The collection process would include wage and bank liens, garnishment and court warrants.

Easley said her 28 years of experience in the county’s Clerk of Circuit Court office qualifies her for the treasurer’s duties. Easley, who attended Chowan Junior College and Averett University, ran against Simpson in 2007 and lost.

Berger, 54, also emphasizes treating customers with more parity.

“We need to make sure we treat everyone equally and fairly,” she said, adding that her college education and background in math and accounting give her a leg up over the other candidates.

Berger has a degree in government with a minor in math from the College of William & Mary and has worked as a paralegal since 1975.

The Gretna-area resident said she aims to work closely with staff in the treasurer’s office to ensure money is collected, deposited and invested effectively.

Berger was a county supervisor, representing the Callands-Gretna District for four years until losing her seat to Fred Ingram in November 2007.

Miller, 36, points to his experience as a loan officer working for area banks and as manager of a call center at the DMV office in Altavista as his qualifications for the treasurer post.

“I’ve done it all,” Miller said.

The Dry Fork resident has an associate degree in marketing from Danville Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Averett University.

While making sure residents pay their taxes and fees is important, a treasurer must find ways to help those who may have valid difficulties paying them in full on time, Miller said. A monthly payment plan is one way to ease this burden, he said.

Miller manages a staff of 13 at the DMV, which he said prepares him well for overseeing 10 employees at the treasurer’s office.

Contact John R. Crane at jcrane@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7987.