DeVoss
When New Whiteland’s clerk-treasurer decided to step down after more than three decades in the position, the town’s bookkeeper decided it would be the perfect job for her.
Angela DeVoss was elected in a caucus held earlier this month to fill the seat vacated by long-time clerk-treasurer Maribeth Alspach. DeVoss was the only candidate who filed to run in the caucus.
DeVoss, who joined the town’s government as a bookkeeper in February, has previous experience working with budgets. About 20 years ago, she worked in the Indiana Republican headquarters in Indianapolis for its finance department, working with bills, accounts payable and receivable, and payroll. Although she took a break from her career to raise her children, she knew she could excel at similar work, DeVoss said.
“There was an opening in town for the bookkeeper’s job and I thought this was perfect for me. I took that job and I really loved it,” she said. “It was a lot of what I did at the headquarters 20 years ago on a much smaller scale. When Maribeth retired, I decided I wanted to go for that.”
Prior to being the town’s bookkeeper, DeVoss worked for two years as the co-chair of community engagement for Aspire Johnson County, the economic development organization representing the county and the southside of Indianapolis.
“Our goal was to engage the community in different activities and bring together government, businesses and residents and really draw people together and make Johnson County a great place to live,” she said.
As clerk-treasurer, DeVoss will be tasked with keeping track of invoices, receipts and utility payments, taking minutes at council meetings, filing reports and uploading bank statements and financial records, along with preparing a budget and presenting it, she said.
During her time as bookkeeper, DeVoss was able to learn a lot about the job from Alspach, she said.
“I got to work closely with her and she’s amazing,” DeVoss said. “She has a lot of experience and has done a wonderful job of keeping the books and everything with the town in really good shape. I love learning with her. She’s a wealth of information and I want to look to her as a mentor. I want to do the best job I can and I have big shoes to fill.”
DeVoss will finish out the final year and a half of Alspach’s term, and will be able to file for candidacy in next year’s election to continue her role. As Clerk-Treasurer, she wants to make sure the town is able to manage its money well, she said.
“My biggest goal is to serve the community well to the best of my abilities,” DeVoss said. “I want to make sure our town is being wise with our money, especially at a time when gas prices are so high and everything is going up so high. The government and those working for the government who are entrusted with those sorts of jobs have to make sure they’re not spending money on things that aren’t necessary.”
