Dear Citizens:
I want to continue to be your Treasurer through 2025, so I am a write-in candidate in the general election.
To vote for me requires you to fill in the bubble and then write my name.
Why take the effort to write in Lisa Schlegel? When there is confusion, look at the facts: my record-breaking revenue, a slashed budget to where I still spend less to run the Treasury than it cost in 2016, a fully cross-trained staff. Within my first year, the money I made the county paid for my salary for all 4 years of my term. The Treasury is now operating like a strong private sector organization, thanks to implementation of leadership practices I learned from my Bachelor’s degree in Leadership from FHSU.
I have always been upfront with my credentials. I graduated with honors with my Master’s degree from KU. I was nominated for the Torch Award at FHSU, the highest award annually given to a graduating senior. These credentials illustrate, (along with my performance as Treasurer), my persistence, integrity, intelligence, and motivation to work smart and produce results for citizens. I run this business for you.
I designed a strategic plan in 2017, and spent three years enacting it, systematically and successfully. I was first in Ellis County to revise office hours, along with making stronger county contractual agreements and investments. I put in the time, negotiation, and research to strengthen our Treasury in all facets. My resume includes record percentage-collection on taxes, hosting the first ever annual tax sales, and millions of dollars from banking proposals and investments. Our money is safer, too. I also hold a Level 2 Certified KS County Finance Officer credential. I am from Ellis County and I work FOR Ellis County.
I am a new person with new ideas; the county is full of “lifers” who want to keep the status quo and violently refuse to grow--I am not exaggerating. Being qualified and doing a good job seems secondary in every regard here. This poor leadership starts from the top down, and must change now before things go so far south we cannot come back from it without serious impact to citizens. The power has shifted from the politicians back to you this November. It is critical to the health of the county you pick honest local leaders.
Who will be the better Treasurer? Remove the distractions and outright lies politicians have told you to make you doubt me. Their goal is to secure their political sandbox from outsiders like me who put the citizens first. I have perfect audits for all three years of my term. I have done nothing wrong or illegal; if I had I would have been legally reprimanded. All the rumors are feathers in the wind, spread by people of poor character and no substance, grasping to hold onto political power.
Who do you choose? Julie, the Democratic candidate for Treasurer, no longer lives in Hays. She has refused to participate in the interviews and has not told citizens anything.
Vern, the Republican candidate has worked at the Landfill for several years. He is dangerously unqualified to be the Treasurer. He has been deliberately unclear about his job title in interviews, (Foreman of Landfill, Supervisor of a division of Public Works, and “a long-time county employee” are three ways he has introduced himself in public). Is length of employment a credential? It simply indicates his status as a non-threatening member of the good old boys club. Why should citizens have to pay to train Vern Ruder to do what I already do? What does he have to offer that competes with me? If he wins, he will tell you how great things are, and will look at you blankly when something, inevitably, goes wrong. His investment credentials are obscure and questionable, along with the multiple ways he has described his educational background. We don’t sell bonds at the Treasury, so that credential is not useful. He did not specify if he graduated from NCK Tech, but listed once he was in Management, and another time, it was Marketing. Which is it? What is his job title? What is his educational background?
It is ironic Vern Ruder cites “communication” as the biggest challenge to the Treasury 2021 onward. I am the first Treasurer to communicate with citizens. It is not I who lacks communication skills; communication is a two-way street. Since he brought it up, let’s look at his communication: he has been unclear in every facet of his communication with citizens about why he is running for Treasurer. He has spread rumors about my staff, when he knows nothing about what goes on in the Treasury. My staff are happy, and we have an enjoyable work environment. He says he will improve investments. I already have sound investments; it was the first sector I improved in 2017. He says he will decrease spending. That is not possible. I already decreased it. Vern brags he has a $1.2 million budget to run the Landfill. He has never presented to the Commission or citizens, line by line, as I have on my $515,000 budget for the Treasury. He spends without oversight, like most departments. He brags his budget is higher, as though that is a feather in his hat, but says he can come here and lower mine. Vern said he wants to buy kiosks for the Treasury to save money 2021 onward. He wants to cut employees and use technology, which was proven by Johnson County two years ago to be an unsuccessful hassle, and did not save money. I will keep your tax dollars local, supporting local jobs, not technological fads.
Competing candidates Vern and Julie do not come close to offering you what I can. Julie has stayed silent. Vern’s obscure description of his resume deflected from the one thing everyone at the county knows: under his management, the Landfill burned down in 2019. With the negligence he displayed in his current position with the County, why let him slide into the Treasury and bring more havoc?
Vern Ruder will work for the politicians; Treasurer Lisa Schlegel works for YOU. I want to continue to make my living working for you. I love my staff; I love meeting and talking with the public. You will make a wise investment if you mark the bubble, then write-in “Lisa Schlegel” on your ballot. Advance-Vote at 718 Main Street before November 3, or vote at your polling place on election day.
Lisa Schlegel, Ellis County Treasurer