Candidate profile: Rachel Toney

•Republican Rhonda Bookout faces Democrat Rachel Toney in the Curry County treasurer’s race. Current treasurer Linda Hall is retiring at the end of the year.

Name: Rachel Toney

Occupation: Chief Deputy Treasurer

Political party affiliation: Democrat

Birth date: May 16, 1963

Hometown: Clovis

Family: Husband, John and two children

Hobbies: Reading, hiking and spending time outdoors

•Tell us about your background and qualifications for this job:

I have worked in the treasurer’s office for 12 years. I have served as chief deputy for eight of those years. I am a certified financial officer from the University of New Mexico.

•What’s working well now in the treasurer’s office?

All is working well. Our 2003/2004 audit is balanced to the penny.

•What’s not working so well?

Our tax schedules are taking up more and more space. We will have to work on a solution to that problem.

•Clara Hawkins, a former employee in the treasurer’s office, said she has seen you doing campaign work while also performing your duties as chief deputy of the treasurer’s office. Is there any truth to that allegation, which would be a violation of county policy?

Clara Hawkins worked in our office for 17 days. Obviously she did not read her personnel policy. Employees are allowed breaks at which time we can take care of personal business. I have not violated county policy.

•Your opponent says the treasurer’s office needs to be operated more efficiently. She says a new accounting system is needed and proposes to keep the office open during the noon hour all year if she’s elected. What do you think about those issues?

My opponent has never worked a day in the treasurer’s office. If she had, she would know that we have to be very efficient. We run our office with half the staff of most other county offices. Our current accounting system meets all Governmental Accounting System Bureau requirements. Our office is open through the lunch hour during tax season. That is the only time we have heavy walk-in traffic.

•A credit card company contends your opponent has failed or refused to pay thousands of dollars owed to the company. Why do you believe her personal dispute with the credit card company is an issue in this campaign?

Her personal dispute with the credit card company is for non-payment of debt. That shows poor money management. If you cannot control your personal finances, how can you possibly be entrusted with millions of taxpayer dollars?