GOP treasurer candidates suggest changes to office

The Republican candidates for Lake County treasurer suggested changes to the office in recent questionnaires for the Daily Herald.

David Stolman and Jeri Atleson are seeking the GOP nomination. They'll face off in the March 18 primary election.

The winner will battle Democrat Cynthia Plouche, who doesn't have a primary challenger.

Incumbent Robert Skidmore isn't seeking re-election.

Stolman, of Buffalo Grove, is a veteran county board member and a former chairman of that panel. Atleson, of Mundelein, is a Fremont Township board member and former Fremont Public Library District trustee.

The Daily Herald asked the GOP hopefuls various questions in the questionnaires. Some answers have been edited for clarity, grammar or length.

Q. What would you change about the way the office operates? Why?

Atleson: I would freeze the budget during my first year in office. I plan to develop and implement a citizen outreach program that educates homeowners on understanding their property tax bill. I bring accounting skills to the office that allows me to have a hands-on understanding of how the office works.

Stolman: Bob Skidmore has done an excellent job as Lake County treasurer, and I greatly respect his service to Lake County. I would like to build on his successes by continuing to improve technology in the office while seeking out additional efficiencies so that we can further reduce the office's budget in order to save the taxpayers' money.

Lake County has a legacy of fiscal responsibility, which must continue. I am a staunch fiscal conservative and will continue this legacy, as I did when I was Lake County Board chairman and reduced spending to pre-2009 levels without negatively impacting services.

It is my pledge to taxpayers that I will be efficient with their tax dollars so that Lake County can remain an oasis of fiscal sanity in Illinois.