I was born and raised in Kern County and I love my community. I graduated from California State University of Bakerfield with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. I began my career with Kern County over 16 years ago as an accountant 1 in the office of the Auditor-Controller-County Clerk. Six years later I promoted to the County Administrative Office from a Senior Accountant to a Fiscal and Policy Analyst 2. In July 2019 I was appointed as the County's Assistant Auditor-Controller-County Clerk, where I still serve today. I have extensive knowledge in governmental accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting. I was on the management team that developed annual County budgets of over $2.5 billion dollars. I've served on the County's Debt Management team for nearly 10 years and I was on the initial team that started Launch Kern, the County's Lean Six Sigma initiative. In my current role, I oversee all sections of the Auditorl-Controller-County Clek functions such as county-wide payroll and accounts payable, calculation and distribution of property taxes, administration of the County's financial management system, internal audit and external financial reporting. I also serve as the Assistant Registrar of Voters where, along with the current Auditor-Controller-County Clerk, I plan and execute elections. As the County's Chief Accounting Officer, this position requires extensive knowledge in governmental accounting, county structure and how it relates to the federal government, the State of California, cities, special districts, and the community at large. I am the only candidate who posseses this experience.
All aspects of this position require the utmost honesty, integrity and independence. There is no room for personal or political agendas, which is why this is a non-partisan position. The job at hand is to ensure taxpayer dollars are being utilized efficiently and in-line with budgets adopted by the people voters elect to represent them as well as to conduct safe and secure elections to assure Kern County voters that their voice is being heard.
When I am elected, I will expand the internal audit function to include more county-wide audits to ensure departments are following policy and procedures designed to protect the use of taxpayer dollars. I will also make County financial information more easily excessible to taxpayers and the general public as I believe it is important to be transparent to the people I serve. Finally, I will expand voter education by expanding our current outreach initiative to increase voter's knowledge of the policies, procedures and processes the Elections' Office follows each election to renew trust in the elections process.
As I previously mentioned, I have the actual, first-hand experience in all areas of responsibility of this position. I have been a public servant for over 16 years and will continue to serve the good people of Kern County. I am ready to serve my County as it's next elected Auditor-Controller-County Clerk and I would be honored to have your vote!
