Scott seeking re-election as county clerk

SANDPOINT — Marie Scott is seeking her sixth term as Bonner County’s clerk, ex-officio auditor and recorder.

Scott said the county’s clerk must have the knowledge and experience in court operations to be an effective administrator, policy-setter and problem-solver.

“I bring to this position 20 years experience managing those duties on a daily basis. If staff has a problem, the clerk needs the background to solve that problem.”

Scott ran unopposed for the Democratic party nomination last spring and faces Republican Bud Mueller, a former county commissioner, in the Nov. 2 general election.

As clerk of the 1st District Court, Scott and her deputies work in conjunction with the district judge and two resident magistrates to carry out a varietyof duties and services aimed at making the courts more user-friendly and less costly for taxpayers.

As the county’s auditor and budget officer, Scott said a strong background in fund accounting is necessary to effectively administer Bonner County’s $55 million budget.

During her tenure, Scott said the county’s financial condition has improved from weak to strong.

“When I first took office, we were borrowing a million dollars on Oct. 1 to carry us through to the first tax collection in January,” she said.

“We no longer use your tax dollars to pay interest on borrowed money to meet our first-quarter obligations.”

As county recorder, Scott led the development of the first statewide training program and procedural manual for recorders in all 44 Idaho counties. The program remains in place with bi-annual training conducted the Idaho Attorney General’s Office.

“I worked to ensure that the training would be done regionally to enable our deputies to take part in it and to keep the costs associated with their attendance to a minimum,” said Scott.

On the recorder side of things, Scott said the office is in the process of digitizing its records.

The clerk works hand-in-hand with county commissioners. With each newly-seated board, the commission policies, procedures and direction constantly change. Scott said she knows the corporate history to capably assist them in achieving their goals.

The clerk also serves as the primary contact for the 42 taxing districts in Bonner County, with many of the smaller districts undergoing changes in administration.

“The county clerk provides, help, advice, guidance, and direction in matters relating to budget preparation, levy limitations, and in election conduct and administration,” said Scott.

Scott has earned the respect of her peers statewide, having served as secretary, vice president and president of the State Clerk’s Association. She was elected by the five northern counties to chair and representative on the Idaho Association of Counties’ board of directors.

Although Scott is the one standing for election, she said kudos go directly to her staff.

“My staff is dedicated, honorable, and hard working in all facets of this office. We are a team and we work well together to solve problems and implement new procedures. We all take pride in doing a job well and in serving our community with the services we provide,” she said.