Republicans table vote on potential treasurer candidate

After hearing from Wanda Larson, a potential Republican candidate for Hill County treasurer and assessor, the Hill County Republican Central Committee voted 8 to 1, to table her selection as the party's candidate.

"We have some work to do as a committee," said Dennis Morgan, who made the motion to table. He declined to elaborate after the meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, Committee Chair Andrew Brekke said Larson had contacted the committee to express her interest. He said earlier this week she was the only person who had done so.

William "Bill" Gupton, who had filed as the Republican candidate, withdrew his candidacy last month.

Gupton has taken a job in Anaconda and no longer lives in Havre.

"It's a little difficult to run for office in Hill County when you don't live here," Brekke said during the meeting.

"It's unfortunate for us. I thought he was a good candidate." Sandy Brown, a 10-year clerk in the treasurer's office, defeated incumbent Carrie Dickson in the Democratic primary June 8.

With Gupton's withdrawal, county Republicans have until Aug. 18 to select someone to face Brown in the Nov. 2 general election.

Larson answered questions from voting members of the GOP committee and other Hill County residents for nearly 40 minutes before the committee started its regular monthly meeting.

Her responses to questions were similar to the stance taken by Brown in the primary. Much could be done to improve the operation of the office, she said, including updating its computer systems and spreading work better among the office employees.

"I would like to see it more efficient," Larson said.

She said that, especially in the difficult financial times the county is facing, cutting staff might be required.

She said increasing efficiency could be a way to be able to do that.

Brown commented on updating computer systems and improving efficiency and customer service while she was running in the primary.

Larson was hired as a clerk in the office in 1998 and was appointed as a deputy in 2001. She said since being appointed deputy, she has been responsible for many of the same duties as the treasurer.

"So I feel I am quite qualified as far as duties are concerned," she said.

She ran for the of f ice as a Republican in 2002, but announced she was ending her campaign after the primary election. Larson said Wednesday during the meeting that personal issues came up in her life that prevented her from campaigning that year.

She said the same was true during the primary season this year. An illness in the family kept her out of Havre most of February through May, Larson said.

When asked how she feels about carrying the Republican banner in the general election, she said she has considered herself a Republican for the last 30 years. The office of treasurer does not really cover any partisan issues, however, she said.

"In that position we have to be very impartial … ," Larson said.

"In the county we all get along.

Party issues don't come into it," She added later.

She also said she is not interested in making major changes in the staff at the office if she is elected, although she said she has not decided who she would like to appoint as deputies.

"I would be keeping the same personnel," Larson said. "We have a very good staff."