The most important qualification to be Grant County’s Treasurer is financial education and experience. The write-in candidate, who barely squeaked into the general election challenging our Grant County Treasurer, hasn’t provided any information on why he’s qualified for the job. When asked, he deflects the question by saying he’s going to “bring service back.” But, the things he claims he’s going to do aren’t even duties of the treasurer.

On the other hand, Darryl Pheasant has a BA in finance, a minor in economics and 28 years of experience as treasurer. His expertise is recognized by the Washington State Association of County Treasurers by serving as their vice president.

One of the least understood, but most important, duties of the treasurer is investing county funds that have been collected and are not going to be spent immediately. Since these are public funds, there are very strict rules on how they can be invested. In 1995, Darryl recognized that the most successful way to maximize investment income within these strict regulations was to create an “investment pool” to combine surplus funds from other agencies with Grant County’s. The success of this pool is demonstrated by the fact that many other county funds, cities, schools, hospitals, ports, fire districts, and insurance pools now participate. Now that’s what I call service.

Investing public funds takes a unique mindset. First, the treasurer needs to understand the rules limiting what he can do. Then, he has to constantly be aware of what is going on in the world, the US, the treasury markets and agency bond market. That takes financial training, experience and proven talent.

Let’s keep Grant County’s finances in good hands. Retain Darryl Pheasant as Grant County treasurer.

Don Long

Soap Lake