Experience, fresh perspective choices in Franklin County auditor race

The Franklin County auditor's race is a choice between an auditor with 21 years of experience who is backed by officials who belong to both parties and a small-business owner who says he'll bring a fresh perspective.

Republican Matt Beaton, who owns his own real estate appraisal business, is challenging incumbent Democrat Zona Lenhart in the November election.

Lenhart said Beaton's experience is suitable to serve as assessor, but he doesn't have the skills and experience to be county auditor.

In reply, Beaton said he thinks the assessor's office is well run and his skills would serve the public better as auditor.

Beaton said he's qualified because of his four-year degree in business administration from the University of Washington and his nine years of operating his own real estate appraisal business.

He said that background will help him analyze information.

The 41-year-old Pasco resident said he's already begun researching laws relevant to the office and preparing for public office.

Lenhart started working for the county as a licensing deputy in 1974. She worked in all four departments of the auditor's office -- licensing, recording, elections and accounting -- before she was appointed auditor in 1989. She has run unopposed since then.

Lenhart, 57, said she has the experience to be able to make tough decisions, including terminating staff when necessary.

She is a certified elections official and noted she can help out in all four of her office's departments, which she has done more frequently since staff cuts.

With the diversity of skills the departments require, Lenhart said there would be a huge learning curve for someone new to the job.

"I think experience matters," she said.

Beaton criticized her for adopting shorter office hours since county budget cuts and said it shows the office is unresponsive to the public. The licensing office should open early when people are waiting, he said.

Lenhart said after office staff was cut, along with money for overtime, office hours were cut to give employees time early and late in the work day to finish such tasks as handling online transactions.

Beaton said he's also concerned about that the office still uses 27-year-old accounting software that is no longer supported by its maker.

Lenhart agreed it's important to adopt a new accounting system, but said the current one still works and has saved taxpayers money because it has not needed annual maintenance.

A committee composed of officials from several county agencies recommended last year that county commissioners replace the accounting system, but commissioners have not found money for it in the cash-strapped county budget, she said. It could cost $500,000 or more, she added.

Lenhart is proud of her record, which she said includes creating a state-of-the-art elections facility where ballots are secure and careful procedures are followed.

Lenhart also said she's been able to have all recorded documents electronically scanned at no cost to taxpayers. That means documents dating as far back as 1884 are easily available to the public in the office and online.

Also, the public can record documents with the county auditor's office using the internet. And Lenhart said she wants to expand the service to include the filing of deeds.

This will speed up the process for financing agents and people who are buying real estate property, she said. It will save the financing company time and money.

Lenhart said she is working with the treasurer's office to set up electronic recording of deeds. The treasurer's office needs to be able to collect a 1 percent sales tax.

Her other goals include obtaining the new accounting system and continuing to work toward online voting as an option for voters.

That will make it easier for those serving in the military to receive their ballots and vote, Lenhart said. At the moment, troops can submit their votes online but still need to mail in a signature page to validate their votes.

If elected, Beaton said he would want to rework the auditor's office website to make information more accessible and create a mission statement for the office. Then he said he would look for efficiencies to improve day-to-day operations and develop goals with staff input.

Beaton said he wants small, responsive government. He said he would close his appraising business if elected.

Lenhart has been endorsed by Secretary of State Sam Reed, a Republican; State Auditor Brian Sonntag, a Democrat; and various county auditors, including Republicans Brenda Chilton in Benton County and Karen Martin in Walla Walla County.

Beaton is endorsed by the Franklin County Republican Party, but said he has not actively sought endorsements.

He has raised $5,716 for his campaign, while Lenhart has raised $6,330, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.

This story was originally published September 13, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Experience, fresh perspective choices in Franklin County auditor race ."