County to up treasurer qualifications

"The question is always about balancing fairness with the uncertainty of changing the recommendations,” Murphy said.

Longtime Treasurer Lee Buffington is retiring after this term. Both Deputy Treasurer Sandie Arnott and former Burlingame mayor Joe Galligan have announced plans to run. They and any other candidates must abide by the current guidelines which state the treasurer/tax collector must be a U.S. citizen and a registered voter of the county at the time they get nomination papers or an appointment.

The proposed criteria, of which the office holder must have at least one, includes serving in a senior financial management position in a county, city or other public agency for a continuous period of no less than three years. These positions can include, although they are not limited to, treasurer, tax collector, auditor, auditor-controller or the chief deputy or assistant in those offices.

The position holder must have a college degree in a major including business administration, public administration, economics, finance, accounting or a related field with a minimum of 16 units in accounting, auditing or finance. They must also have a valid certificate from the California Board of Accountancy, be a chartered financial analyst and be designated a certified cash manager.

Even if the elected treasurer does not meet the new guidelines — and both announced candidates do — that person will be grandfathered in if elected again because they will have met the three-year experience recommendation, Murphy said.

The San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury in December first recommended the county up its treasurer qualifications. At the time, then-Board President Mark Church said the idea was a mix of pros and cons — ensuring qualifications but potentially denying an otherwise excellent candidate.

In 1996, the state authorized the Board of Supervisors to increase the requirements for the elected position but it never did so. Church said it was probably because it had never been brought before the board.

Murphy echoed the sentiment, saying with Buffington meeting the proposed recommendations there hadn’t been a hurry.

"There didn’t appear to be a need,” he said.

Buffington announced last year he would not save a seventh term. Although the treasurer position often goes unnoticed, it received attention after the Lehman Bros. bankruptcy leeched nearly $150 million from the San Mateo County investment fund and Buffington was called on to explain why the risks were not known.

The Board of Supervisors meets 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26 in Board Chambers, 400 County Government Center, Redwood City.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102.