For the first time in more than 30 years, a familiar name will not appear on the ballot this fall.
Eight-term Clark County Treasurer Doug Lasher unexpectedly didn’t file for reelection earlier this month. His surprise retirement left an opening to succeed him in a position that’s responsible for collecting taxes, as well as managing the county’s investments and debts.
The two candidates vying to succeed Lasher are Robert Hinds, a market analysis and planning manager for HP Inc., and Vancouver City Councilor Alishia Topper, who currently works as tax services manager for the treasurer’s office.
Hinds, 50, also serves as chair of the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission, which he said has given him some insights into county government. He said that he’s considered public service at different points in his career and figured that now is the time to make a bid for office.
“I do have broad experience and I think that what public service is supposed to be about is having people come from the community, from the private sector, and bring fresh ideas,” Hinds said.
Hinds said he holds a master of business administration degree from Washington State University Vancouver and has worked at HP for the last 3 1/2 years. He said he has over 20 years of experience in finance, economic analysis or other areas relevant to the office of treasurer.
Topper, 40, said that as tax services manager, she oversees the billing, collection and processing of $792 million in taxes and assessments annually for 148,000 billable parcels. She said the treasurer’s office has a collection rate of 99 percent.
She highlighted her service as vice chair of Columbia Credit Union and her appointment to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission by Gov. Jay Inslee last year. She holds a master of public administration (the same degree held by Lasher) from Portland State University, where she said her course of study included public finance.
“My skill set is really aligned with what the (office) needs,” she said.
Topper also highlighted her work on the city of Vancouver’s budget as a member of city council. She successfully ran for reelection to city council last year, campaigning that she wanted more time to work on housing, infrastructure, public safety and economic development. If elected, Topper said that she will resign her city council position.
The Clark County Treasurer’s Office has an annual budget of $2.9 million and has 24 full-time employees. The position comes with an annual salary of $114,504.
“We are really at the precipice of another major change in technology, another tech wave, and I feel I’m uniquely qualified to manage through it,” Hinds said.
He said that work environments are likely to see a shift in technology as significant as the adoption of broadband internet. He said the shift could include digital convergence, the “internet of things,” blockchain technology and other developments that’ll change how governments conduct business.
Topper said she also wants to embrace technology to make the office more accessible. Additionally, Topper said that as treasurer she would do more to engage the public and get more feedback on customer service.
“We need someone who will be out in the community talking about the work we do,” she said.
Topper said that mobile homes are particularly burdened with foreclosures and are often a housing option for seniors. Citing her interest in affordable housing, Topper said she would work on legislation at the state level to help keep people in mobile homes from foreclosure.
In 2016, Topper ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for state House. But Topper is running for treasurer without a party affiliation. Neither is Hinds. Both say the office should be nonpartisan.
Lasher’s decision
Lasher, a Democrat, said he stepped down to have more time to take care of his mother and spend time with his wife. He said he fully supports Topper for the position.
In April, Lasher filed papers with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission to run for re-election.
Neither candidate filed for the position until Friday, the last day for candidates to make the ballot. Topper didn’t file until 21 minutes before the 5 p.m. deadline, according to the county’s election website.
Topper said Lasher was considering stepping down. But she said he didn’t make the decision to not run until the last day to file.
