York County Treasurer Race

Democratic incumbent Stacy Kilroy of Old Orchard Beach and challenger Robert Travers, a Republican from Lebanon, are running to fill the York County treasurer position on Nov. 5.

Kilroy has held the seat since Gov. Janet Mills appointed her in July to fill the post vacated by Bobby Mills.

 Kilroy said she wants to continue serving in the position despite the fact that she is shy “and never had any intent to run for an office in my life …(but) there is work to be done, and I am qualified to lead and motivate others to participate. Kilroy said a good example of her leadership style is that she reached out to her opponent, and they pledged to work together with each other, no matter who wins. 

 Travers did not return several messages left for him requesting an interview. He said on his campaign Facebook page that the York County Treasurer should serve as a watchdog for the county’s tax dollars. “I am committed to bringing fiscal responsibility, accountability, and transparency back to York County,” he said.

“The role requires a high-level mix of finance, public tax skills, and up-to-date financial expertise in government accounting standards and their intersection with private financial accounting standards,” Kilroy said.

She said her work experience makes her qualified for the role as treasurer.

“With 28 years of experience in local government and nonprofit finance, tax incentives, economic development and enterprise operations, I have been staff, a leader, and a consultant for small governments and their nonprofit institutions using fiduciary powers in five states (Maine, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois.”

Kilroy is certified in special revenue sources and government financial instruments such as regular government fund and bonds, developer tax credits, Omnibus bills, FEMA, tax increment financing, public-private partnerships, affordable/workforce housing, rural development, and more by the Council of Finance Development Agencies.

“I am an expert in government and private software, data analytics, key financials and taxable use performance benchmarking, and the visualization of data,” said Kilroy, “which is really helpful to inform the public.”

Although she has not held an elected office except York County treasurer, Kilroy said she’s worked very closely either for a government or with the government in a staff capacity for over 28 years.

“I have been appointed by elected officials to serve on committees that review policy, make law or perform as designees of the elected officials. Just one example is that I served 5 1/2 years and three terms as an appointed sworn expert to oversee, with six others, the implementation of a city’s $600 million Multi Bond Capital Improvement Program,” she said.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from Columbia College and a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University.

Kilroy said York County needs transparency, accountability and financial oversight and “establishing meaningful financial reporting and transparency is a core responsibility to the public and inexpensive in the digital age.

She noted that the Budget Committee is half empty (11 vacancies), “which disfranchises smaller less wealthy towns in the county and rewards insiders.”

The county does not use the financial opportunities available to it that would increase the quality of life in York County without increasing taxation, Kilroy said, and also has a very small budget, yet tremendous overhead.

She is also worried about solicitations and contracts that don’t go out to bid.

“We deserve competitive bidding and citizen oversight of financial matters before it goes to the county commissioners. I am gravely worried about the lifting of tax caps as a method of balancing accounts,” Kilroy said.

Ann Fisher is a freelance journalist based in Saco. She can be reached at 432-7483.