Democrat Kathryn M. Merry of Eureka Springs is facing Makita Williams, a Republican from Alpena in the race for Carroll County treasurer.
“What I bring to the position is an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles,” Merry said. “These principles insure that all income and expenditures are properly handled insuring confidence that financials reflect the true financial condition of Carroll County. This is important to me. The treasurer is responsible to the people of our county and I take that trust seriously.”
During the 1970s she was Assistant Controller at Sweet Adelines International.
“Being an international non-profit, we often consulted with our banks to track international money exchange rates,” Merry said. “I also handled payroll, before the computer became a normal part of office equipment. Practicing accounting basics gave me a great foundation to expand into more specialized areas.”
Through the 1980s and into the ‘90s, Merry worked in multiple areas of oil and gas accounting including production, gas balancing, payouts, revenue calculation, and royalties. As comptroller, she helped convert a shell company into a publicly traded entity working closely with Securities and Exchange Commission auditors.
“The opportunity with Sooner Southwest Bankshares brought me into the world of banking, consolidated holding company financials, extensive Federal Reserve quarterly reporting for a large holding company, and bank acquisitions and mergers,” Merry said.
She has often accepted private clients, designing databases to meet the client’s needs and compiling the finished database into a stand-alone application allowing the client to use their data without damaging the structure and reporting functions of their database.
“When I was nine, John F. Kennedy said those famous words, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.’ I have never forgotten that inspiration. Running for county treasurer allows me to utilize forty years of experience and know I’m prepared to answer the challenge I heard all those years ago.”
Makita Williams said she is running because she wants to continue helping the people of this county.
“There will need to be some upgrades with a new treasurer’s program that has come out that I plan on purchasing,” Williams said. “Security of the office and county monies continues to be of the upmost importance.”
Williams said she has several years of bookkeeping and accounting experience with Carroll County. She helped implement the new coding system that was mandated by legislative audit. She also worked for her family’s trucking business handling payroll and other bookkeeping duties.
“I am aware of the many issues facing Carroll County and hope to be a part of handling those issues in the financial area,” Williams said. “In my seven years of experience working under the current county treasurer, I have come to know the many fine people who keep county government running. I want to be a part of that.”