Four up for GT treasurer

Archive: Friday

ABOUT THE CANDIDATES

- Gregg Diehl, 53, of Peninsula Township, has worked as a tax, real estate and business attorney in Traverse City since 1992. He earned a joint law degree and master's of business administration from the University of Detroit School of Law and a bachelor degree in accountancy and computer science from Western Michigan University.

- Robert Hentschel, 33, of East Bay Township, is in his first term as a Grand Traverse County commissioner. He is manager and part owner of Hentschel Hardware and its affiliated retail operations. Hentschel attended Northwestern Michigan College and Spring Arbor University where he took business classes but did not graduate.

- Heidi Scheppe, 38, of East Bay Township, has been Grand Traverse County's deputy finance director since 2004. She has an associate degree in business from NMC, a bachelor degree in accounting from Lake Superior State University, a master's degree in accounting from Davenport University, and is a Certified Public Finance Officer.

- Don Wilcoxen, 54, of Long Lake Township, has worked 20 years for Garfield Township and is Garfield's accountant, systems administrator, and deputy clerk. Wilcoxen is co-owner of Excalibur Stables. He has an associate degree in accounting and business administration from NMC, a bachelor in accounting from Ferris State University and a Master's Municipal Clerk Certificate.

Related Photos

Gregg Diehl
Rob Hentschel
Heidi Scheppe
Don Wilcoxen

July 27, 2012

Four up for GT treasurer

BY BRIAN McGILLIVARY bmcgillivary@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Fri Jul 27, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — Three men and one woman want to be Grand Traverse County's financial custodian.

County Treasurer Bill Rokos will retire this year; his successor will make daily deposits of county cash in various banks and invest the excess. On any given month the county has an average balance of $20 million.

"But there are a lot of ins and outs and our total budget is over $100 million, and all that money flows through this office," Rokos said. "I pretty much touch all of it."

Voters will pick from Gregg Diehl, Rob Hentschel, Heidi Scheppe, and Don Wilcoxen at the Aug. 7 Republican primary for the job that pays $78,569 a year. The primary winner won't face an opponent in the November General Election, unless a minor party candidate emerges after the primary.

Hentschel, a county commissioner who runs his family's retail business, has some name recognition, but lacks his opponents' formal financial and accounting background. Scheppe and Wilcoxen work as government accountants and Diehl is a tax attorney.

"When I took over the family business it was hurting bad, and I restructured the finances and now we are looking at expanding," Hentschel said. "I think financially I am more qualified than someone who has not gone through hard times in a business setting."

The job is more than just counting beans, Hentschel said. It's a leadership position in the community and his involvement as a county commissioner and with other organizations sets him apart from the field.

Diehl discovered during his campaign that county residents don't know how much money the treasurer collects, how much the county spends, or how much the county owes.

"There's no real knowledge out there, and I will implement a treasurer's report and let people know what is going on in their government," he said. "You need someone who can interpret those books and speak in layman's terms."

Diehl cites his education, 20 years experience as a tax attorney, and that he's the "only one not from government" as attributes his competitors can't match.

"Although one competitor has 12 years experience in the government, it's basically bookkeeping," Diehl said. "I can create the books."

Scheppe, the county's deputy director of finance, said the rules of government finance are considerably different than those practiced in the private sector. She regularly works with the county treasurer's office and is the only certified public finance officer among the candidates.

"I love governmental accounting. I love knowing the balances and knowing where everything is," Scheppe said. "I know the systems, I know the programs, I know how the budget works. In my opinion, I am the most logical choice."

Wilcoxen, Garfield Township's accountant, systems administrator, and deputy clerk, said his campaign is strictly word of mouth and doesn't know the other candidates.

"I'm experienced at financial accounting, but I don't know if I'm better than them," he said.

Wilcoxen and his family started a horse farm about three years ago and said he hasn't had time or money to campaign, thanks to demands from his township job, putting up hay for the horses, and adding a new barn.

"And I have trouble asking people for money to get me another job," he said.