Public impression could affect treasurer election
Published 8:13 pm Thursday, October 18, 2018
NEDERLAND — The public’s views of the responsibilities of the office of county treasurer could decide whether incumbent Tim Funchess keeps the job, or if his challenger Charlie Hallmark takes over.
Funchess, a Republican, emphasizes accomplishments and efficiency of the office during his eight-year tenure.
“The total amount of money handled by my office over the last eight years surpassed $3.2 billion,” he said. “We don’t have the authority to affect policy, but we have the responsibility to make sure the money spent is done so in accordance to policy and the budget.
“The weekly bills that run through my office run between $1-1.5 million each week. Our payroll, which is also disbursed by me, is over $3.7 million every other week. The county treasurer is a financially intensive position that requires a strong financial background, experience and track record.”
Hallmark, a Democrat, offers a broader view of what he believes the position could become.
Hallmark said the job of treasurer is more than merely handling money.
“You need to be involved in the community,” he said. “You need to be outreaching to the community. I’ve said it before that you need to be an ambassador. My job as treasurer is to help the commissioners’ court in any way possible to help grow our county so that we can be more prosperous so that our kids can have more jobs and stay here in our community.”
In a public forum in Nederland on Monday, Funchess said that he worked his way up in a bank as a financial analyst.
“I was moved up to credit manager and then to vice president of the
commercial credit division, managing the loan quality and review of an over $1.1 billion portfolio.”
Funchess said he chose to run for county treasurer because he wanted to serve the public.
“Having been a banker was a perfect fit for being the banker of the county,” he said. “I also have the title of county investment officer. I invest the county funds. My income on these investments have surpassed $3 million over my eight years. That’s enough to offset my departmental budget every year I’ve been in office. That’s money we don’t need to look for you in the way of additional taxes.”
Funchess said he would continue to provide the efficiency and excellence that defines the office.
“I will continue to keep a watchful eye over your tax dollars and maintain the capability and professionalism that you are accustomed to,” he said.
Hallmark leaned on his background of owing and operating a dry-cleaning business.
“We sold that business in the late ‘90s, but it gave me the experience of running a business,” he said. “I learned about all of the aspects of dealing with a business — budgeting, dealing with cash, dealing with customers, producing products that our community will support. We were able to do all of that.”
Hallmark said he is currently running a real estate business.
“My life has been spent serving the public, serving you,” he said.
Hallmark said he served as the youngest member and president in the history of the Port Arthur Independent School District board.
“Whenever I got elected, there were all kinds of issues,” he said. “There were money problems, performance issues and discipline issues. At 27 years old, that board embraced me and we were able to accomplish things that were not able to be done at that time.”
Hallmark said the district’s test scores improved under his watch.
“We were able to balance the budget,” he said. “We passed policies that helped teachers that were having some trouble in the classrooms.”
Hallmark said he wants to bring transparency to the position by using oversight.
“We were the only governmental entity in the area, that I’m aware of, over the last 20 years, that voluntarily asked for a performance review of the entire operation. That is what I’m going to bring to the county treasurer’s office.”
Early voting begins Tuesday and runs through Nov. 2.
Election day is Nov. 6.