Soap Box

To the editor,

During his 10 years as director of United Way, Tim Walsworth read and reviewed hundreds of audits and financial statements. Through this laborious process, he developed policies and procedures to achieve strong financial practices. Tim and the United Way Board of Directors chose to undergo an audit every year he was director.

Presently, Tim is employed by the Durango Business Improvement District (BID) in a leadership role. BID is required to submit an annual budget and work plan to the City of Durango, as well as year-end financial statements to the City of Durango auditors and the Department of Local Affair (DOLA). In the past 15 years of reviews and audited financial practices, Tim’s leadership has resulted in no major findings of concern.

Contrast that to the present La Plata County
Treasurer: 10 percent error rate on transactions, found as a result of a special review requested by the county commissioners (cost to taxpayers $15,000); a “material weakness” finding in the La Plata County audit of 2016, which resulted in the County being labeled a “higher risk auditee” (cost to taxpayers an additional $24,000 for each of the following two years, 2017 and 2018 = $48,000).

Who is better equipped to be La Plata County Treasurer? Does experience really outweigh expertise? Please join me in casting your primary ballot for Tim Walsworth.

– Carol Simmons, Durango

To the editor,

In regard to the upcoming primary election for La Plata County Treasurer, I would like to make the important distinction between speaking “negatively” of an elected official versus holding one accountable for their job performance. In today’s insidious political climate, facts do matter. And the facts are that the Treasurer’s Office, under Allison Aichele’s leadership, has had some serious problems.

As reported in the Durango Herald last year, the Treasurer’s Office was found to be out of compliance with numerous state statutes. This occurred two years into Ms. Aichele’s term. As a result, an accounting firm was hired to conduct a review on the Treasurer’s Office’s procedures and books. According to this review, the accounting firm found a 10 percent error rate on Aichele’s books, a higher than average rate according to the firm conducting the review.

Additionally, many internal control deficiencies were found. Due to these errors found in the Treasurer’s Office, a “material weakness finding” was added to the La Plata County’s overall audit (see La Plata County commissioners meeting minutes from Sept. 12, 2017). As a result of this material weakness finding, the county has been reclassified as a “higher risk auditee,” which equates to additional auditing procedures requirements, and thus additional costs to the county and taxpayers. The county will now carry this “higher risk” classification for two years. These additional expenses as a result of bad book-keeping are disappointing.

Perhaps equally disappointing is the fact that when I emailed Aichele about this issue, she responded that in regard to the material weakness finding: “All Colorado county treasurers, including my predecessor, and to include my successor, will have this same ‘weakness.’ It is inherent to the job.” But according to the meeting minutes referenced above, Finance Director Diane Sorensen remarked that in the 12 years she has worked for La Plata County, no material weakness finding has ever been reported in the countywide audits. This does not square with what I was told by Aichele.

I expect more from my local elected officials when it comes to honesty and straightforwardness. For all of these reasons, I will be casting my vote for Tim Walsworth for county treasurer in the June primaries. I encourage all residents to look into this matter themselves, and I hope you will consider voting for Tim as well.

– Kathleen O’Connor, Durango

To the editor,

I am writing in support of Tim Walsworth for county treasurer. I initially met Tim 14 years ago through his excellent work as CEO of United Way of Southwest Colorado. I have since gotten to know him personally. Tim is as organized as they come and works long hours with great attention to detail. His skills at working with others are outstanding. He has an excellent track record with employees and he has successfully worked for multiple boards of directors.

Although I knew that Tim was asked to run by multiple people, I could not take his claims of issues in the current Treasurer’s Office at face value without investigating for myself. I listened to some of the public recordings of county meetings and read audit reports that support these claims and now I fully understand why he is running. I urge you to give him careful consideration and support him in the primary if you are registered as a Democrat or as an independent. He is just the type of hard-working and honest person we need in office.

– Debbie Kurz, Durango