A recent forum presented by the League of Women Voters Ventura County drew all seven candidates running for treasurertax collector in the June 8 election, filling the dais in the council chambers at Simi Valley City Hall.

The candidates faced off against one other in a Q&A round, each trying to set himself apart from the rest.

The treasurer-tax collector’s office collects, processes and invests local tax revenues and upholds the state’s revenue and taxation code. The monies come primarily from property taxes that fund the activities of local government, including the school system.

When candidates were asked what changes they would make to the operation of the treasurer-tax collector office, most agreed that an updated, more easily navigated website is needed to increase the transparency of the office.

Steven Hintz, a judge for 27 years and chief financial officer of the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, said he would make the website “very open and full of data.”

“The most obvious changes have to do with the public face of the office on the Internet. The website for the county treasurer doesn’t provide a source of very much information for the public to see what’s happening with the $2-billion investment portfolio that belongs to them,” said Hintz, a resident of Ventura. The county employment retirement website is just as bad, he said.

Another idea suggested by some of the candidates was the implementation of a paperless, electronic tax collection system.

Jeff Walker believes he’s the best man for the job in terms of harnessing technology and social media to better communicate with taxpayers and make paying taxes easier and more environmentally friendly.

The 45-year-old small-business owner drew a line between himself and his opponents, noting that he’s under 50, not retired and grew up with computers.

“Certainly technology is something I’m going to provide to this office,” said Walker, who also has 10 years of public accounting experience. “I think it’s time for the next generation of leadership, which I represent, not the status quo, which I believe my opponents will bring to this office.”

Ed Summers, who last year ended his term as a Ventura City Council member, agreed that online services are important but cautioned his fellow candidates to remember that many in the county don’t have easy access to the Internet.

“We have to remember that there are 18 percent of the households in the county that don’t have computers,” said Summers, who has 27 years of finance and banking experience. “While we create new ideas, we have to make sure we create them fairly and equitably.”

When asked what security measures they would put into place to protect the people’s money—in light of recent malfeasance in the public guardianship’s office—the candidates stressed the need for more oversight.

“Setting the appropriate tone at the top, I think that’s the single most important thing you can do, and then let that filter down the organization,” said Thomas “Keith” McLaughlin, who retired from his position as CFO of Countrywide in 2005 after an 18-year career at the financial institution.

Peggy O’Reilly, who owns and operates her own consulting firm, which specializes in financial compliance, said she believes in tough internal controls to hold employees accountable.

She also said the treasurer-tax collector should take a second look at the past to see if even more stringent controls should be established.

“You can never have enough control over money. Money is very, very tempting to so many people. I don’t care if it’s checks or credit card payments for your taxes, there is money in different locations,” she said.

The candidates also addressed pension reform.

Most said that while it’s a significant issue for policymakers, there isn’t much the treasurer can do. The position doesn’t set pension plans or direct the county’s budget—it simply makes sure there are adequate funds to meet the county’s responsibilities and promises.

Don Facciano, however, didn’t shy away from voicing his opinion.

“People are living longer. We need to increase the age (when people start receiving a pension). Yes, they should also contribute more. We can do a two-tiered hiring system when new people come in,” said Facciano, president of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association and past president of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce.

He added that the treasurertax collector, who has a seat on the county retirement board, must work together with the unions.

“Quit just asking the unions to take the cuts. Management must also share the pain,” Facciano said.

All the candidates agreed tax collector should be an elected office.

“In order to have an independent treasurer-tax collector, someone who can say what is right from his standpoint and not under the thumb of the Board of Supervisors . . . I think it’s necessary that the treasurer-tax collector be elected by the public,” said Warren Harwood, a trustee of the Pleasant Valley School District and former Long Beach City Council member.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization of women and men that encourages informed and active participation in government and works to increase the understanding of major public policy issues through education and advocacy.

The two-hour forum can be viewed in its entirety on the city of Simi Valley’s website, http://simivalley.org. It can be found in the City Council meeting archives by clicking on “Public Meetings,” then “City Council Meetings.”