Two seek county auditor position

The exterior of Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind., pictured, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016. Mike Wolanin | The Republic

Two women are competing to be Bartholomew County’s auditor for the next four years.

Bartholomew County Auditor Pia O’Connor, who is seeking a second consecutive term, is being challenged at the polls by Democrat Sharon Persley this year.

The two candidates approach the job from two different perspectives.

Q: What is the most significant accomplishment you’ve achieved that qualifies you to be the county’s auditor?

O’Connor: I’m a certified public accountant with over 12 years of experience in financial leadership in Bartholomew County government.

Persley: Being a mom. The job of an auditor is to basically provide checks and balance to county government. That’s what a mother does every day, including making sure everybody else is doing what they should be doing. It’s comforting to make sure the bottom line is square.

Q: Should the auditor be considered an active participant when either the council or commissioners are meeting?

O’Connor: Yes, because so many of the questions they ask during meetings are related to finances. The auditor is the chief financial officer of the county.

Persley: I do. The auditor’s office has the overview of everything going on. The auditor becomes the bottom line or end result of everybody else’s activities. And if there is an issue, the auditor needs to help address it.

Q: Are you confident in the financial information provided from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance? Does some data still tend to fluctuate, which can hinder financial planning?

O’Connor: If their recommendations don’t agree with my projections for some reason, I will push back and have them fully explain how they came up with their calculations. That’s often takes place during their early recommendations. When it is finalized, it usually comes up with the estimates I came up with. I understand it’s just much better to wait until you have the final numbers.

Persley: There’s always some fluctuation in everybody’s budget. Perhaps it was caused by an unexpected expense. You have to expect fluctuations, and be able to roll with the punches. In the end, there will always be a bottom balance.

Q: Why are you running for a political office?

O’Connor: I want to give back to the community, and make it the best community it can be.

Persley: I went the people of our wonderful county to have a clear and precise voice. I want them to know that is going on, and I don’t feel that is currently being done. I want money spent properly and somebody, along with checks and balances. I don’t feel that’s going on either.

Pia O’Connor

Name: Pia O’Connor (R)

Age: 56

Address: Columbus

Previous elected positions: Six-year member of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Board, two terms as Bartholomew County treasurer, completing her first term as Bartholomew County auditor

Current employer: Bartholomew County government

Educational background: Received a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Butler University. Earned her master’s in business administration from Indiana University. She is a certified public accountant.

Community Service: President of the St. Peter Lutheran Church Foundation

Family: Single

Sharon Persley

Name: Sharon Persley (D)

Age: 55

Address: Bartholomew County

Previous elected positions: none

Current employer: Residential advisor at MTC Job Corps

Educational background: Graduated from high school in Portage, Indiana in 1986. Studied anthropology and history at IUPUC.

Community Service: Works with groups that tackle homelessness or those suffering from serious illnesses.

Family: Husband, Keith, four daughters and one son, 14 grandchildren.