By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
Citing a lack of leadership and a desire to hold public office, Ellis County native Lisa Schlegel is running for Ellis County Treasurer.
After working in higher education, at a local bank and at the Hays Public Library, Schlegel is running as a Republican against incumbent Treasurer Ann Pfeifer, a Democrat.
Schlegel graduated from Fort Hays State University with a degree in Leadership Studies and received a master’s from the University of Kansas. She believes her education would be a benefit the Treasurer’s Office.
“It’s just become clear to me that this would be a great time for me,” Schlegel said, “to share my leadership skills and make that office a more pleasant place to work, a more pleasant place for people to come and just have better leadership, which can only make Ellis County stronger.”
Schlegel said she has more leadership experience than her opponent and said that is the biggest problem facing the treasurer’s office.
“It’s been a three-year leadership track record of poor leadership decisions,” Schlegel.
RELATED: Ann Pfeifer candidate profile.
She cited a verbal altercation over taxes at an Ellis County Commission meeting between Pfeifer and County Commissioner Barb Wasinger as an example of the lack of leadership shown by the treasurer and said Pfeifer takes things personally.
“There was no effort to sort of bring people together and sort of dial down the negative energy,” Schlegel said.
Schlegel does not a substantial background in finance, but said there are many treasurers around the country who do not have a background in finance. She said skills she uses in her personal life will help her be successful in the role.
“I’m a quick learner,” Schlegel said. “I’ve had an excellent educational record and an excellent professional record.”
She said that will allow her to quickly pick up on state-provided training.
“I know that I’m going to learn quickly and learn how to pick up on that stuff,” Schlegel said. “She (Pfeifer) got in there and had no experience, and she learned.
“My opponent, again, does not want people to know that that is where she is getting her education, that it’s provided to her and she is learning that.”
Schlegel touted her experience keeping her personal finances and said she manages her own money well.
“Those skills that I just have naturally in my life will carry over,” she said.
She said she has no examples of Pfeifer’s inability to manage the county’s budget – which totals more than $47 million — and said she believe Pfeifer is “probably doing OK.”
Schlegel also said her knowledge of the farm and oil communities will benefit her, if elected.
“When I heard about the shortcoming of this office, I just knew that I could do better, I have done better,” Schlegel said. “I’d like to stay in Hays. I’d like to get into local government.”