City and County Comptroller

Comptroller. It’s not a high profile political office. The Comptroller typically doesn’t make headlines, and prior to this election, voters didn’t have a choice in the selection of the office holder at the county level.

But things are different for this year’s election. On April 3, both the city and county of Milwaukee will hold elections for Comptroller. Both positions are listed as non-partisan. The Comptroller acts as the county or city’s chief financial officer, reviewing contracts, determining costs of potential legislation and overseeing borrowing.

Prior to this year, the county comptroller was appointed by the county board. But last year, the state legislature approved a measure to elect the comptroller with bipartisan support. Gov. Scott Walker said that having an elected county comptroller will provide “another level of accountability to protect taxpayers.”

Supporters of an elected county comptroller, including County Executive Chris Abele, Sen. Alberta Darling (R – River Hills), and bill co-author, Sen. Lena Taylor (D – Milwaukee), said a nonpartisan official is needed to watch the county’s spending and debt. Opponents, including members of the county board, said the position should remain appointed, since the county board put checks and balances in place for county finances following the pension scandal of 10 years ago.

County Comptroller candidates

Kristie Bunting is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 17 years experience in manufacturing, financial services and consulting industries. She is currently the comptroller at a local engineering firm that specializes in system design and construction management.

Bunting said she is running due to taxpayer frustration at the lack of accountability for the spending of their tax dollars.

“Taxpayers need assurances that the county will be financially prepared to support growth and employment,” she said. “And with the recent political divide, they want that information to come from an independent source.”

Scott Manske has been the county’s appointed comptroller for the last 19 years. As the incumbent comptroller, he has been responsible for the management and coordination of the central accounting, accounts payable and payroll departments of the county’s fiscal affairs division. He also has overseen the development of special studies and reports, technical assistance and the development and publishing of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Single Audit Report for Milwaukee County.

“I might make a decision that people disagree with, but if it provides the best financial value for the county, I’m going to make my opinion known,” Manske said.

Manske is also a CPA, but had let his state-issued accountant’s license expire expire nearly 30 years ago. While the license is not neccessary for the elected position, Manske said he will renew the license before the April election.

City Comptroller candidates

The City of Milwaukee Comptroller has been an elected position for decades. The incumbent, W. Martin “Wally” Morics, is retiring at the end of the current term.

Martin Matson is seeking elective office for the first time, running for City Comptroller. He is the current deputy director of the Employees’ Retirement System for the city, where he assists with the management, budgeting and forecast of $25 million in retirement expenditures. He has also worked for a number of banks in the Milwaukee area over his 18-year career.

Matson has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a double major in Management Information Systems and Industrial Relations.

He advocates a referendum to add a 1 percent sales tax increase in the city of Milwaukee to raise approximately $80 million in revenues. He bases this idea on a Public Policy Forum report on ways to increase revenue for the city.

“It would be, in my opinion, one of the most equitable ways to collect additional revenue,” he said.

Milwaukee County Supervisor Johnny Thomas is stepping down from the board to run for City Comptroller. As the representative from the 18th District, Thomas has served as the chairman of the county’s Finance and Audit Committee and a member of the Economic and Community Development Committee and the Pension Study Commission.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from UWM and a Master’s of Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University.

Thomas said he will be an independent, professional voice for city taxpayers and serve with a high level of integrity. He is focused on improving the city’s bond rating (which are currently rated at high quality levels by the major reporting agencies, but short of the highest rating) and ensuring that taxpayers see the best return on their investments.

Neither comptroller race has a primary, since Bunting decided to drop out of the city race to focus on the county race. The general election will be held April 3.