TREASURER: In Callen we trust

Loyal Republicans, let’s talk turkey! Who can you vote for county treasurer?

Steve Matheson is the nominated Republican candidate. We know by Matheson’s curriculum vitae that he held a high level executive position with JP Morgan. He acknowledges his responsibility for risk management of the mortgage-backed security department — or whatever it was called. He knew the bundling of subprime mortgages as derivatives on the market was not right. No, it was wrong. As John Wayne used to say in his western movies, “He knowed.” Yet, Matheson perpetrated this deception on investors in our country and markets around the world anyway. Why did he do it? For money, of course. JP Morgan made a lot of money and so did Steve Matheson. As we all know, JP Morgan and others have agreed to pay many millions of dollars in penalties and fines to the U.S. government.

When Matheson was asked by me before he entered the primary election if he was considering seeking the treasurer’s office for the salary, he replied, “Oh no. I made 10 times the treasurer’s income.” My next question then was if elected, would he accept just the proverbial one dollar per annum compensation? You guessed it. Dead silence.

So here we are. Consider a Republican candidate with high risk investment background and stated goal to change our county treasurer’s proven investment policy, or do we leave the treasurer’s ballot position unmarked?

For those of you who find it difficult to vote for a Democrat, as a taxpayer consider the financial security of our county. If necessary, hold your nose, bite the bullet and vote for fiscally conservative Democrat Janet Callen. She is my choice over Matheson.

RICHARD C. BLAND

Registered Republican

Cougar Gulch