SEABROOK — Voters will choose the person who will be the town's treasurer for the next three years when they go to the polls on Tuesday, March 11.
The candidates are Oliver Carter Jr., who is running for re-election after serving as treasurer for the past three years; and Carol E. Perkins, who served as treasurer for three years prior to Carter.
Candidate profiles appear in alphabetical order.
Seabrook's polling place is the Community Center on Lafayette Road, and the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
OLIVER CARTER JR.
Age: 52
Address: 15 Nicholas Way
Number of years living in Seabrook: 42
Education: Winnacunnet High School and Northeast Institute of Industrial Technologies
Occupation: Owner of Carter's Priority Printing since 1992; previously worked for Visual Graphics Corp. as a senior field technician for 14 years.
Past elected offices: treasurer; three terms on the Board of Selectmen (9 years), member of the Recreation Commission and Budget Committee.
Reasons running for treasurer: He likes being involved with the town of Seabrook. He feels that his background and experience have made a difference in the town's financial affairs. In the past three years the Treasurer's Office and Finance Department have worked together in an effective, efficient manner, a practice he would like to see continue.
List two financial challenges Seabrook faces in order of priority:
1) Keeping taxes down
2) Implementing new accounting practices
Offer resolutions to the challenges listed above, again in order of priority:
1) Taxes are controlled by spending, so keeping the budget as lean as possible is important. In addition, the town's money needs to be controlled and invested wisely, to increase revenues without increasing taxes.
2) Implementing new accounting practices depends on keeping up with the most current technology and software. This helps run the town's financial concerns in the most efficient manner, and it offers total accountability.
If elected, how many hours a week would you work (full- or part-time), and why:
He will continue to work about 20 hours per week, or part-time. The duties of the treasurer are to oversee the town's finances, such as make sure town deposits are made in safe financial institutions, get the best return on the town's investments and to sign all town checks. Carter said his tenure has proven these tasks can be accomplished in a part-time environment. Daily record keeping is done by capable people in the Finance Department, Carter said.
(Note: Carter reduced the previous 40-hour work week to 20 hours when he became treasurer in 2005, after running on a platform promising to reduce the job to part time, take half the budgeted salary and not take insurance benefits.)
CAROL E. PERKINS
Age: Candidate did not respond to this question
Address: Pickens Avenue
Number of years living in Seabrook: Lifelong resident
Education: Winnacunnet High School; attended Portsmouth College receiving certificates in accounting, bookkeeping and computers; medical claims and billing specialist diploma from U.S. Career Institute.
Occupation: bookkeeper at Graf Brothers Leasing of Salisbury. Prior experience includes medical billing for Comstar, and 13 years at Oakland Industries as administrative assistant, chief bookkeeper and payroll clerk. Served as treasurer for three years (2002-2005).
Past elected offices: one, three-year term as treasurer.
Reasons running for treasurer: She honestly enjoys working for the town of Seabrook and its people, said being treasurer was the most enjoyable job she's ever had. Perkins wants to restore duties to the job that are specified in state statute without increasing the treasurer's pay.
List two financial challenges Seabrook faces in order of priority:
1) To invest the town's money safely and wisely, gaining the highest interest possible.
2) To have checks and balances on the town's financial affairs.
Offer resolutions to the challenges listed above, again in order of priority:
1) The town's investments are presently invested where she placed them when she was treasurer.
2) Perkins would take back into the treasurer's office duties listed in state statute that are currently being handled by the Finance Department. Doing so would eliminate the need for the deputy treasurer, saving taxpayers' money. Perkins would like to see the treasurer and deputy treasurer be different people than those working in the Finance Department. Presently, the deputy treasurer is the deputy finance director.
If elected, how many hours a week would you wish to work (full- or part-time), and why:
Perkins would be available during both regular and after hours, approximately 20 hours per week, she said. She would keep the same salary the present treasurer is receiving, $20,000 per year, and would not take any insurance benefits, she said.
