Last spring, no one had filed to run for the Edinburgh position that is charged with keeping the town’s financial records.
Now two independent candidates who filed after the May primary and a Republican candidate slated by a party caucus in June want to be Edinburgh’s next clerk-treasurer.
Incumbent Scott Finley, who has been the clerk-treasurer since 2013, faces two challengers, Zachary Pendleton and Leah Futrell. Pendleton filed to run for the seat after the primary and Futrell was selected as the Republican party’s candidate during the summer. Finley filed as an independent to keep his seat after the primary.
All three candidates have lived in Edinburgh all of their lives and want to give back to the community where they live. All of the candidates have cited keeping open and accurate records as their top priorities for the job.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryPendleton wants to make sure that businesses that want to move into Edinburgh and especially downtown have the money they need to open up and that businesses will not be hit needlessly with taxes, he said.
The town’s council typically makes decisions regarding taxes and the clerk-treasurer’s job includes preparing and managing the town’s budget and managing financial records. However, Pendleton said he can support the town council with some decisions regarding the town’s growth, he said.
“I would be working close enough to them, I might be able to influence them on that,” he said.
He said he brings enthusiasm to the job.
“I’m here for the long run if I get elected, Edinburgh is my home and I don’t want to leave it anytime soon,” he said.
Futrell said she brings years of banking service to the position, as she has worked in nearly every job at her eight years with Horizon Bank in Edinburgh, where she is currently a senior customer service representative.
“My mind has to think in that financial way when helping customers with issues and questions in general,” she said.
She also wants to help streamline services internally to make accessing records easier for everyone, Futrell said.
“I would love to go in and make everything easy for the council and for employees of the town to make sure it is a smooth-running, well-oiled machine,” she said.
Finley wants to keep up forward strides in transparency. For example, the state posts some financial public records online and Finley would like to work to get more residents to town council meetings and involved in budget hearings, he said.
“I want people to understand what their tax dollars are being used for,” Finley said.
His seven years on the job and bachelor’s degree in business from IUPUC will help him in the position. He has also attended conferences and meetings with elected officials from across the state, he said.
“That helps greatly in this position and gives the business mind to understand how funds can be used efficiently,” Finley said.
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Scott Finley
Age: 30
Family: wife, Miranda Rizzo
Education: Edinburgh Community High School; IUPUC
Job: Edinburgh clerk-treasurer
Memberships: Indiana League of Municipal Clerk-Treasurers; Municipal Vision Forum
Leah Futrell
Age: 35
Family: Two children
Education: Edinburgh Community High School
Job: Horizon Bank, senior customer service representative
Membership: Christ Fellowship Church
Zach Pendleton
Age: 22
Education: Edinburgh Community High School; Ancilla College
Job: Edinburgh Insurance Agency, marketing, billing and customer service
Memberships: Double Y Saddle Club
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ABOUT THE JOB:
Represents: The town of Edinburgh
Duties: Prepare and manage town budgets, assist with town payroll and manage all financial records. Clerk-treasurer is also in charge of keeping all ordinances, resolutions and minutes from town meetings.
Pay: $52,000 per year
Term: 4 years
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