That title is a Rorschach test.
Thomas K. 'Keith' McLaughlin sent out a press release that he is joining the crowded field running for Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector. His former title at Countrywide is going to be a deciding issue with many people. I can see it working to show he has the most impressive financial credentials or as a massive liability. Before it was bought out by Bank of America, Countrywide was among the top private sector employers in Simi Valley. But with all of the controversy over the mortgage crisis that good will might be gone.
The difficulty in a crowded field is that any candidate that spends time attacking him is only helping every other candidate in the field. It is early to make any predictions but there are many reasons to think this won't be settled in June. Which candidate has the stamina and the money to campaign throughout the long summer months?
Where do candidates go to raise money for this position? I know there are interest groups for positions like Supervisor ( Unions, Developers, Environmentalists) but what interest groups have a stake in this position?
I am going to keep an open mind on the issue, which is easy to do because I don't have a favorite candidate yet.
Are you open to his message or is his past employer too much during the current economic times?
Click on continue reading for his press release.
Thomas K. 'Keith' McLaughlin to Run for Ventura County TreasurerThomas K. "Keith" McLaughlin announced today that he will run for Treasurer of Ventura County. Mr. McLaughlin has over twenty-two years of high-level financial experience.
Thousand Oaks, CA. (PRWEB) March 5, 2010 -- Thomas K. "Keith" McLaughlin announced today that he will run for Treasurer of Ventura County. Mr. McLaughlin has over twenty-two years of high-level financial experience. His professional career began in Public Accounting, where he earned a CPA credential in 1984 (inactive since 1987). In 1986, he joined Countrywide Financial Corporation (then Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc.) as a Senior Financial Analyst. Mr. McLaughlin was soon promoted to Treasurer of Countrywide, a position he held for several years. His last position at Countrywide was Chief Financial Officer, which he held from December, 2001 until his departure from Countrywide in March, 2005.
A graduate of Thousand Oaks High School, Mr. McLaughlin has lived in Ventura County for over thirty years. "I very much look forward to the opportunity to serve the residents of Ventura County as their Treasurer", Mr. McLaughlin said. "If elected, I will focus on prudent financial management and on maintaining a high level of service to all the Treasury department's clients, including the taxpayers. I believe my years of experience in the Financial Services industry in increasingly challenging roles make me an ideal candidate for the office."
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I dunno! I can hardly wait to hear his campaign slogan.
If he does for the county what he did for Countrywide, we'll be bankrupt in no time!