The job of Springfield city treasurer isn’t exactly glamorous. It’s basically a glorified accounting position, with no real authority over public policy and the added stress of being in the public eye. So why would anyone want this job?
“I just want to keep it stable, to protect the people’s money,” said Ward 1 Ald. Frank Edwards, who is running for treasurer after reaching the limit of three terms on the Springfield City Council. In his view, his greatest accomplishment during his time on the council was providing stability, which is what he wants to bring to the treasurer’s office.
“I don’t look at it as an employment agency, and I’m not looking at wild things we’re going to invest in,” he said. “I think we need to worry about safety and liquidity in the people’s money.”
Misty Buscher of Springfield says she is running for the office because of her social conscience. Buscher is a vice president at Marine Bank in Springfield with 23 years of experience in banking and a history of involvement in several charities.
“I understand it’s not a decision-making body, and I’m fine with that,” Buscher said. “I have a passion for giving back to the community, and I do think being an elected official would absolutely help highlight many of our nonprofits.”
The Springfield city treasurer receives money on behalf of the city, pays bills, manages city pension funds, writes checks for firefighter pensions and reports fund balances to the Springfield City Council. Current treasurer Jim Langfelder, also a former banker, is running for mayor, creating a vacancy. Although it’s an administrative role, the office does provide a convenient stepping stone for those with mayoral aspirations, as in Langfelder’s case. But neither candidate seems to have any interest in being mayor.
“I do not see myself running for mayor,” the 44-year-old Buscher said. “I am running for city treasurer based on my financial background and feel this is the job I am qualified for.”
Edwards, 64, already served as interim mayor for four months after the death of mayor Tim Davlin in 2010, and Edwards has no interest in returning to that post.
“I’ve already been the mayor,” he said. “The budget always fascinated me – where it’s coming from and where it’s going. In the mayor’s office, that’s exactly what we worked on, trying to get our fiscal house in order.”
Edwards says his qualification for treasurer comes not only from his past public service, but also from managing the finances for his business, Springfield Welding and Auto Body. Buscher also touts her financial expertise as a banker, adding that she is currently seeking accreditation as a certified treasury professional.
Buscher sees opportunities to improve how the treasurer’s office serves the public. Besides using the public profile of the office to bring attention to nonprofits, Buscher hopes to spur city officials to become active role models for young people. She says she would pursue state grants to implement an online license renewal system for businesses and other licensees. She also hopes to acquire an ATM to place in Municipal Center West for the convenience of people paying parking tickets or other fines or fees. Currently, the city can’t accept Visa debit cards because state law forbids public funds from being used to pay Visa’s service charge.
Buscher says she took an unpaid leave of absence from Marine Bank, spending her time instead “pounding the pavement” to meet voters. She has printed more than 10,000 pieces of campaign literature, and she has run ads in print and on TV and radio. She has raised about $20,000 and is endorsed by the International Association of Firefighters Local 37, which represents Springfield firefighters, the Trades and Labors Council, the Sangamon County Democratic Party and Springfield ICON.
Edwards says he has the endorsement of the Basic Crafts Council of Mid-Central Illinois and others, but he doesn’t put much stock in endorsements.
“They are what they are,” he said. “I don’t worry too much about that. … The endorsement that really counts is at the voting booth.”
Edwards has raised about $32,000, he says, adding that he has printed 2,000 campaign pieces and run TV and radio ads.
“After 12 years, people know who I am,” he said. “Either they’re going to give me the benefit of the doubt or they’re not.”
In February, Edwards took heat from Craig Burns, the former finance director at City Water, Light and Power, for an email exchange in which Edwards called a CWLP bond investor a “crackpot” for criticizing the city council’s inaction on maintaining appropriate debt coverage for the utility. Edwards and Burns traded barbs publicly, and Burns, who was running for treasurer himself but dropped out of the race, now supports Buscher.
Although the spat between Edwards and Burns has little to do with whether Edwards could perform the duties of the treasurer, it does illustrate that he lives up to his first name. He says he would continue speaking his mind as treasurer.
“Let’s just say what’s on our mind and move on,” he said. “Let’s not candy coat it. If I think you can do something better, I’m going to tell you. I tend to be a little more outspoken, so if they want my advice, I’ll give it to them. As far as interjecting, you need to understand that the treasurer isn’t a voting member (of the council), but I think the council will feel more at ease if there’s a guy who’s been there 12 years and actually sat in the mayor’s slot.”
Buscher is no shrinking violet, however. She, too, plans to speak matter-of-factly to the council if asked, although she notes that the treasurer is not typically included in the council’s executive sessions.
“If you’re not part of the executive session, you can still make a call to the aldermen and say, ‘I want you to look at this financial position and see my concerns,” she said. One possible topic on which she’d make her views clear is the city’s underfunded pension system.
“Communication is key,” she said. “As someone who knows me from banking would tell you, when I’m passionate about something, I just don’t stop.”
Contact Patrick Yeagle at pyeagle@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2015.
