Isn?’t it interesting that just last week the Republican party Chairman was telling us all who would be our next Mayorin Pickerington. Now using the name recognition of Jack Rupe the very same party chairmen will be selecting the next Lancaster City Treasurer.
Lancaster treasurer to call it quits
By CARL BURNETT JR.
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
cburnett@nncogannett.com
LANCASTER - Lancaster City Treasurer Jack Rupe announced on Wednesday he plans to step down from his office as soon as the Fairfield County Republican Party can find a successor.
Rupe first was elected to the office in November 2001 and won re-election in November 2005.
Rupe said he and his wife, Pat, had talked seriously about Rupe not running for re-election last November.
''I wanted to run again, but then over the holidays we were visiting my children and grandchildren,'' Rupe said. ''I just decided that it was time to sit back and spend more time with the family.''
Rupe and City Auditor Mary Green encountered trouble in the last quarter of 2005 balancing the city's end-of-the-year accounts. An independent auditing firm was called to determine what the discrepancies were and to balance the accounts.
The auditing firm Donald J. Schonhardt & Associates Inc. recommended creating balanced treasurer's reports each month and buying new computer software to allow the treasurer's office to interact with banks and the city auditor's computer systems.
But Rupe said the budget problems and the accounting process were not factors in his decision.
''We had worked those out, and I think everything was coming around,'' Rupe said. ''The modernization and changes in the job are taking more time than I want to commit. I just think it is a good time for someone else to come in.''
Green, a Democrat, said she was surprised at Rupe's decision to step down.
''But I can appreciate he wants to spend more time with his family,'' Green said. ''I've enjoyed working with him back when he was the fire chief and as city treasurer.''
Rupe, 62, had run for the office after retiring from the Lancaster Fire Department. He started in the department as a firefighter and worked his way up to assistant chief and then chief before he retired.
Rupe said he and his wife are going to continue to run their Lancaster travel agency, Partners in Travel. He said the business was another factor in his decision.
''We often can get good travel deals through the agency, but I haven't had a chance to take advantage of them because of the treasurer's job,'' Rupe said.
City treasurer is a part-time, elected position that pays $16,000 per year. There are no other employees in the department.
Rupe said he was not going to put a date on when he will resign. He's waiting for the Republican Party to find a replacement but hopes to be out of the office by May.
Fairfield County Republican Party Chairman Steve Davis said waiting until the party can find a replacement is a sign of Rupe's professionalism.
The Fairfield County Republican Central Committee needs to select a replacement within 45 days of Rupe's resignation.
''He's a class act,'' Davis said. ''It will give the party time to be able to pick a good replacement.''
A new treasurer will have to be elected in 2007 to serve the final two years of Rupe's four-year term.
Fairfield County Democratic Party Chairman Dale Graham said local Democrats will start looking for someone to run for the position in the 2007 election.
Originally published February 16, 2006
Lancaster treasurer to call it quits
By CARL BURNETT JR.
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
cburnett@nncogannett.com
LANCASTER - Lancaster City Treasurer Jack Rupe announced on Wednesday he plans to step down from his office as soon as the Fairfield County Republican Party can find a successor.
Rupe first was elected to the office in November 2001 and won re-election in November 2005.
Rupe said he and his wife, Pat, had talked seriously about Rupe not running for re-election last November.
''I wanted to run again, but then over the holidays we were visiting my children and grandchildren,'' Rupe said. ''I just decided that it was time to sit back and spend more time with the family.''
Rupe and City Auditor Mary Green encountered trouble in the last quarter of 2005 balancing the city's end-of-the-year accounts. An independent auditing firm was called to determine what the discrepancies were and to balance the accounts.
The auditing firm Donald J. Schonhardt & Associates Inc. recommended creating balanced treasurer's reports each month and buying new computer software to allow the treasurer's office to interact with banks and the city auditor's computer systems.
But Rupe said the budget problems and the accounting process were not factors in his decision.
''We had worked those out, and I think everything was coming around,'' Rupe said. ''The modernization and changes in the job are taking more time than I want to commit. I just think it is a good time for someone else to come in.''
Green, a Democrat, said she was surprised at Rupe's decision to step down.
''But I can appreciate he wants to spend more time with his family,'' Green said. ''I've enjoyed working with him back when he was the fire chief and as city treasurer.''
Rupe, 62, had run for the office after retiring from the Lancaster Fire Department. He started in the department as a firefighter and worked his way up to assistant chief and then chief before he retired.
Rupe said he and his wife are going to continue to run their Lancaster travel agency, Partners in Travel. He said the business was another factor in his decision.
''We often can get good travel deals through the agency, but I haven't had a chance to take advantage of them because of the treasurer's job,'' Rupe said.
City treasurer is a part-time, elected position that pays $16,000 per year. There are no other employees in the department.
Rupe said he was not going to put a date on when he will resign. He's waiting for the Republican Party to find a replacement but hopes to be out of the office by May.
Fairfield County Republican Party Chairman Steve Davis said waiting until the party can find a replacement is a sign of Rupe's professionalism.
The Fairfield County Republican Central Committee needs to select a replacement within 45 days of Rupe's resignation.
''He's a class act,'' Davis said. ''It will give the party time to be able to pick a good replacement.''
A new treasurer will have to be elected in 2007 to serve the final two years of Rupe's four-year term.
Fairfield County Democratic Party Chairman Dale Graham said local Democrats will start looking for someone to run for the position in the 2007 election.
Originally published February 16, 2006
