“I think the residents of Butler County can expect a transparent, innovative treasurer who will listen and work to communicate effectively that information that the tax payers need,” McNamara told the Journal-News adding as far as the tax collections are concerned he’ll be “as compassionate as possible with taxpayers and understanding what they’re going through so we can explore all options if they’re having difficulty.”
The county GOP was forced to choose a new auditor after Roger Reynolds was convicted of a felony in December for using his office for personal gain.
He said as soon as Gov. Mike DeWine certifies his appointment he’ll turn in his two-week notice to the Clermont County commissioners and he hopes to be officially sworn in on March 17. He knows many judges so he hasn’t decided who he will ask to administer the oath of office.
The Treasurer’s Office employees have all been there a long time and he said he isn’t planning any staffing changes, “I don’t have any reason to make any big changes at this time.” Nix’s Chief Deputy Lori Sullivan — who is the interim treasurer — is moving to the auditor’s office in the same role once McNamara takes office.
Nix said she was thrilled McNamara got the nod, especially since her former staff all know and liked him.
“I’m excited because he brings so much talent to the county overall, he’s extremely intelligent and has a lot of skills that will come in handy for not only the treasurer’s office but the auditor’s office and countywide,” she said adding she expects there will be a very close relationship between the two offices and “it’s a good day, we’ve turned the page.”
McNamara is taking an $18,578 pay cut accepting this position but he said he has had other successful ventures so “I’m in a position where that is not as much of a concern and I’m looking forward to serving the people in this way.”
The treasurer’s chief role is as the county tax collector, banker, overseeing the investment of about $500 million and chairing the land bank, to name a few responsibilities.
McNamara said he would like to use the Treasurer’s Office “as a platform to elevate our county” in terms of providing financial information to the public, like exposing scams, especially those targeting the elderly.
“There’s nothing that says we can’t help the public in innovative ways,” the new treasurer said.
Central Committee Chair Chris Wunnenberg said the screening committee “highly recommended” McNamara and “recommended” Schultz. He said of McNamara “we’re confident he’ll do a great job.”.
Schultz, a CPA and one of only 146 certified government financial managers in Ohio, told the Journal-News she wasn’t surprised by the outcome of the vote.
“I wish Mike the very best in his new position as county treasurer. I love my job being an elected official of Fairfield Twp. so this is not a loss, it’s just what God had planned for me,” she said. “I am so appreciative of the Central Committee members who have reached out and acknowledged my credentials and hard work, that support means the world to me.”
McNamara wore a number of hats with the county before he left in August 2020 to become Clermont County’s development director.
McNamara started his career with the county in the Clerk of Courts Office in 1998; was chief deputy for Nix from 2010 to 2015. He moved to the development department in 2015 serving as the executive director for both the Port Authority and the Land Bank.
He has a master’s degree in public administration and says he has experience in government finance from all his various positions. He was running an office of about 30 people in Clermont County.
GOP Chairman Todd Hall told the Journal-News McNamara won by an “overwhelming margin” for a reason.
“Mike is highly qualified for the position, working in the county Treasurer Office for several years as a deputy treasurer, as well as working for the State Treasurer. Mike is a lifelong conservative Republican, a former president of both the Butler County Young Republican group and the Miami College Republicans,” Hall said. “He has served both our party and our county well, and he will do an excellent job as treasurer.”
The GOP hasn’t had to appoint any elected officials in a while, the last time was in 2011 when they appointed Mike Gmoser county prosecutor to replace Robin Piper after he was elected to the 12th District Court of Appeals.
The Central Committee picked Nix in 2007 to replace Carole Mosketti, who resigned after being convicted of an ethics violation for hiring her granddaughter, then Reynolds in 2008. Former county auditor Kay Rogers, former Commissioner Mike Fox and others went to federal prison for their part in the Dynus fiber optics scandal. Rogers resigned after pleading guilty to bank and mail fraud, and tax evasion.
“I certainly am looking forward to a peaceful time when our elected officials do a wonderful job at their duties and everything is happy,” Wunnenberg said about hoping not having to make more appointments anytime soon. “That’s wishful thinking in the politics world anyway.”
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