Plummer should be re-elected

Dear editor:

I would like to comment on the campaign letter endorsing Barbara Steele written by former Clerk of Elmore County, Ms. Best, April 7, 2010.

I simply believe Elmore County would have been better served had Ms. Best written about Ms. Steele's educational and job experience qualifications for elected office. Was it Ms. Best's intention to attack Ms. Plummer's character, integrity and job performance without evidence?

In the April 7, 2010, letter Ms. Best writes that Marsa Plummer, the current Clerk of Elmore County, was not qualified at the time she ran for elected office, her work was mediocre at best, she showed poor judgment and she did the minimum required work. At the time, however, Ms. Plummer worked for Ms. Best so it begs the question as to why Ms. Best didn't fire her if her job performance and judgment were that bad?

During the previous election campaign, however, Ms. Best wrote a letter to the editor Oct. 25, 2006, supporting Ms. Hiler but stating "that both candidates have good experience in the district court."

Ms. Plummer's honesty has also been brought into question. Ms. Best wrote that Ms. Plummer was not always on the job, but she was paid nevertheless. Ms. Plummer was clerk and Ms. Best was not there. Employees would not know the official reasons for the absences or if the absences were approved, or even if Ms. Plummer was paid.

If Ms. Best had knowledge of the misuse of public funds to pay Ms. Plummer for unapproved absences why didn't Ms. Best go to the proper authorities with the evidence and request an official investigation?

In addition, Ms. Best states past clerks were available to the public and the clerks motivated, trained and empowered their employees to assist the public. I assume the inference to be drawn by the statement was that past clerk's offices were motivated, knowledgeable and able to assist the public but that Ms. Plummer's office is not.

That has not always been my experience though. One time, for example, I went to Ms. Best's office and asked the employee at the front desk for assistance but I was told by her that she wasn't familiar with the microfiche; Ms. Best was sitting at a desk in her office reading a magazine (on the public payroll?) when I approached her for the help her employee was not able to provide. Question: During Ms. Best's tenure (1999-2006) why didn't Ms. Best budget and obtain new office machines? How could her staff adequately and efficiently serve the public using antiquated office machines such as microfiche?

To continue, Ms. Best states the clerk position requires knowledge of various tasks and coordination with other elected officials, She also states "governmental accounting is quite different from business accounting" and that Ms. Plummer's "...new accounting degree did not qualify her for government accounting and she was unwilling and has made no effort to take advantage of any help...."

Accounting, however, is standardized whether it is performed in a business environment or government office. Every business, however, has software programs and procedures unique to that business and government is no different. But the basics are standardized. Therefore, I disagree that Ms. Plummer's "new accounting degree" doesn't qualify her for the clerk's position. After all, she has performed the duties of clerk since 2007; doesn't that qualify her more than Ms. Steele, who has never functioned as the elected Clerk of Elmore County?

Marsa Plummer has, by the very fact she obtained a business accounting degree, demonstrated she has the initiative, willingness to learn, intelligence, flexibility and ability to bring the Clerk of Elmore County office into the 21st century as the world of technology changes. Elmore County will benefit.

I do agree with Ms. Best that we, the citizens of Elmore County, do need a clerk with integrity and that has the best interests of Elmore County as a top priority. We have that clerk in office right now.

Please make sure you are registered to vote in the May 25, 2010, Primary.

I ask, also, for your support of Marsa Plummer for Clerk of Elmore County because your vote will be crucial. Both candidates are Republicans, therefore the primary will decide the next Clerk of Elmore County. There are no Democrats running for the office.

Patrick B. Carney