The campaign for Colorado treasurer has become one of the nastiest in this year’s election cycle even though the office’s duties are the least partisan of all statewide positions.
The incumbent treasurer, Republican Walker Stapleton, and challenger, Democrat Betsy Markey, have been hurling accusations at each other related to competence and dedication.
Stapleton has accused Markey of having “no substantial understanding of public finance,”
Markey insisted she knew the answer, but failed to elaborate during the rest of her response.
Meanwhile, Markey has cited key-card records in claiming Stapleton doesn’t come to the office regularly — a charge the treasurer hotly disputes.
In a joint appearance with Fox31’s Eli Stokols, the candidates ended up talking loudly over each other on several occasions.
And while we won’t try to settle every dispute here, this is what we do know: While Markey is an accomplished public servant and businesswoman who likely would do a good job as treasurer, Stapleton has a proven record of accomplishment that should earn him a second term.
After Stapleton discovered that 18 state agencies with varying degrees of expertise had independent powers to issue bonds, he spearheaded an effort to reform the process. Experts from the treasurer’s office now have a greater role, he explains, while safeguards are in place to ensure that best practices are followed in issuing bonds.
Stapleton also points with pride to how his office refinanced the state’s unemployment insurance, saving employers, he says, $150 to $200 per worker.
Voters should also appreciate Stapleton’s efforts on behalf of transparency and fiscal prudence for the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association. By contrast, Markey described a lawsuit Stapleton filed seeking pension data as a “witch hunt,” even though the treasurer sits on PERA’s board and had pledged not to make any data public.
Stapleton lost his lawsuit, but it was a battle worth waging — and one that voters should appreciate.
