Democrat Elizabeth Modesto and Republican John Harrison are each hoping to replace Nina Rivas as Portage’s clerk-treasurer next year.
Rivas, who ran as a Democrat, filed as an independent to run in this year’s general election and then dropped off the ballot. She completes her first term in December.
Modesto is a familiar name for Portage voters. She served on the council for 24 years. In fact, she was the first Portage councilwoman sworn into office. Donna Pappas was also elected that year.
Modesto was elected as a Republican her first term but has been a Democrat since she ran for her second term. She lost to Rivas four years ago in the Democratic primary.
Harrison has served on the Plan Commission, licensing board and Economic Development Commission. He’s a past Park Board member.
He has a strong accounting background, including more than 30 years at National Steel as well as Midway Games and the American Medical Association, where he was manager of accounts payable until he retired.
“I think the experience that I bring to the table fits that office well,” Harrison said.
Modesto, a retired U.S. Steel pipe fitter, is a former small business owner and has 20 years of payroll experience. She was the council’s budget chair for 13 years and was chair or member of every standing committee in the city, she said. Modesto was liaison to every department except police, she said.
“I know the inner workings of city government,” she said. “The constituents, they expect a lot out of the clerk-treasurer’s office,” Modesto said.
“I will have an open-door policy, and I will communicate more effectively with the mayor, elected officials, employees, department heads and city residents,” she said.
Harrison said the next clerk-treasurer will need to make sure there are adequate funds and that the budget is approved and adhered to. With the federal American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated, that will be a challenge, he said. “You can’t rely on those funds going forward.”
Modesto said the city’s credit rating needs to be upgraded. “You do this by paying the bills on time,” she said. When she was on the budget committee, the credit rating was A+. Modesto want to bring it up to A, if not A+, so the city will pay less interest on borrowed money.
She also wants to upgrade the payroll system or retrain and cross-train the existing staff.
Both candidates promised improved communication with department heads and to evaluate current systems, making an process improvements they deem warranted.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
