3 on ballot for Trafalgar clerk-treasurer

<p>A former clerk-treasurer has plans to get the town of Trafalgar back on track financially if she wins the seat again.</p><p>Dawn Ray, who served as Trafalgar clerk-treasurer from 2012 to 2014 until she stepped down to take another job, says the town needs someone with the kind of experience she has to manage its finances.</p><p>Donna Moore, the incumbent, is running for another term. Her focus is on making sure all of the town’s documents are modernized and in order, and transparency, she said.</p><p>Amber Johnson will also appear on the Republican ballot as well. She could not be reached for comment.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]<p>Whoever wins the primary will advance to the fall municipal election, where they will face any Independents who may file by the July 1 deadline. No Democrats filed for Trafalgar clerk-treasurer, but the party could slate candidates to fill that vacancy on the November ballot.</p><p>Moore said she wants to continue to build on her accomplishments during the last four years, such as safeguarding town records, archiving and scanning old documents and monitoring town funds.</p><p>Ray says the clerk-treasurer’s main focus should be on the town’s finances, especially in Trafalgar, which is struggling financially. The town had to hire an outside consultant for financial advice and for help with its budget, she said.</p><p>In a recent meeting, that financial adviser said that if the town didn’t get its finances in order soon and start spending more responsibly, it would not be able to pay its bills in a few years.</p><p>If Ray wins the seat, she will decrease the amount of outsourcing and unnecessary spending, she said.</p><p>&quot;I outweigh both of them by far with experience,&quot; said Ray, Johnson County’s personnel coordinator.</p><p>&quot;I am a former clerk-treasurer. I’ve worked for the state department of government finance. I know the ins and outs and ways to maximize property taxes that come in. And I’ve got a lot of contacts with various state agencies.&quot;</p><p>Moore is proud of her work setting up a web page and social media pages for the town, she said.</p><p>&quot;I’m very proud to serve my community and my neighbors. It is an honor to hold this position. My door is always open,&quot; said Moore, who worked in the regulatory department at AT&amp;amp;T for 35 years.</p><p>&quot;I think it’s great that we had the involvement that we did this year, even on the council. I think it’s great that people want to get involved in their community,&quot; she said.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="About the job" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Trafalgar clerk-treasurer</p><p>Salary: $39,476</p><p>Term: Four years</p><p>Duties include: Managing town finances and accounts, recording minutes of council and committee meetings, investing town funds, managing town payroll, keeping town records, submitting financial information to the state</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="The Moore File" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Name: Donna Moore</p><p>Age: 58</p><p>Family: 1 adult son</p><p>Occupation: Trafalgar clerk-treasurer</p><p>Education: Arsenal Technical High School</p><p>Political experience: Clerk-treasurer since 2016</p><p>Memberships: Indiana League of Municipal Clerks; International Institute of Municipal Clerks</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="The Ray File" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Name: Dawn Ray</p><p>Age: 46</p><p>Family: Husband, Scott; 4 children</p><p>Occupation: Personnel coordinator for Johnson County</p><p>Education: North Central High School</p><p>Political experience: Trafalgar clerk-treasurer, 2012-2014</p><p>Memberships: Trafalgar United Methodist Church; administrative council for the church</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]