Nick Nelson
WARREN COUNTY — Two politicians vying to be the Republican party’s pick to run for county auditor this November are highlighting fiscal responsibility ahead of next month’s primary.
Nick Nelson, who has had the job for the past 23 years, said he is running for re-election because he knows the position and enjoys its diversity.
“I’m dealing with the responsibility of being the chief fiscal officer of the county, accounting for one billion dollars last year; being the tax assessor of 95,000 real estate parcels; being the administrator of data processing operations for 1,300 users of our D.P. (data processing) systems, being the sealer of weights and measures; and a variety of duties and responsibilities,” Nelson said. “I like it, I’m good at it and I want to continue.”
Nelson said he’s the best candidate for the job because he earned 18 consecutive years recognition by the Government Finance Officers Association for excellence in financial reporting, achieved the highest rating available for the county’s bond issues and was successful in achieving the lowest possible tax values in recent reappraisal.
Challenging Nelson for the position is Linda Oda, who was elected in 2007 as fiscal officer for Clearcreek Twp. Oda also serves as the director of advocacy services for the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities.
Nelson faced Oda in the 2006 primary, receiving 58 percent of the vote.
Oda said she is seeking the auditor’s job because she is willing to listen to people who work in the auditor’s office, get their ideas for change and implement those changes.
She said she will bring “fresh eyes” and a new perspective to the position by cutting costs and using available technology for maximum advantage, including sending payments electronically to save the cost of postal delivery.
Oda also advocates communicating to citizens via the Popular Annual Finance Report, rather than only the Comprehensive Annual Finance Report already required under Ohio law.
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