ENGLISH: Not best for city

Our county suffered embezzlement when Dan English was County Clerk. The embezzler worked for him. At a trial he perjured himself.

In 2011 County Commissioners found seven Sheriff’s bank accounts operated outside County Clerk oversight with two accounts managed by Sandy Martinson of Dan’s office.

One $17,400 check was only signed by Dan and others only had Dan’s stamp. Statute IC 31-1511 requires two signatures. Martinson held Court bond money in a Sheriff’s account far too long; a $153,191.50 check in 2008 voided six illegal checks; checks for $140.14 and $1,500 in 2011 had one signature.

Dan finally looked into Martinson’s activities; however, he never audited these accounts. Years later an audit exposed illegal activity. This was one audit of one account. Other Martinson-managed accounts have not been audited.

The Sheriff currently operates two outside accounts; potential felonies as no unused revenues are turned over quarterly as required by Statute IC 31-3101 - Article 18 Section 8 and Article 18 Section 9. This has gone on too long without oversight.

A person Cliff Hayes engaged to audit Cash Handling Reports found many problems. This audit did not include Martinson’s operation of outside Court accounts.

In a resulting trial Dan committed perjury. He stated that all accounts were overseen by his County Clerk’s office, yet 10 accounts were handled outside. Dan’s sworn statement was given in 2010, but seven of these accounts still existed in 2011.

These matters are City Council business.

My concern is the wisdom of voting for Dan English with his past record.

VERN WESTGATE

Coeur d’Alene