" Isn't her job as the bookkeeper the one that would have been responsible for reconciling the Current and the credit card accounts that ultimately caused the terrible 2005 audit that the Quorum Court has been reviewing...I for one would not want someone like that representing the Tax Collector's office. I am hoping that the taxpayor's of Benton County will not either. "

" What a great opportunity to elect someone who actually knows what we need as taxpayers!!! Better yet, someone who finds and corrects problems instead of the tired and "OLD" ways of letting things just "be". Just imagine how we can keep our taxes lower by someone like this!!! "

" Surely this is a joke that Tracy Sewell is running for Tax Collector. She's the reason for the horrible audits the Hoggatt Admin has. She is not even qualified to be the bookkeeper let alone the tax collector. P.S. Tracy can not lower the taxes... that is also a joke. "

" " Surely this is a joke that Tracy Sewell is running for Tax Collector. She's the reason for the horrible audits the Hoggatt Admin has. The Tax Collector needs to be a stable, rational, knowledgeable, hardworking person and that is Gloria Peterson.Those of us that worked with Tracy know what we are talking about. P.S. Tracy can not lower the taxes... "

" after the 3 hour wait to pay taxes last week wonder how efficient it is to add public tours of that office. was she unaware how long we waited to pay our taxes? maybe we could have gotten a tour of the office quicker. that's not why we were there however. and how smart is it to add public tours around all the incoming tax dollars to that office? "

" Gloria Peterson, I remember that name. Didn't she quit the job before? I don't see that she is running for the office anyway so your post is moot. I'm sure ready for someone new with better ideas as it's obvious the OLD didn't work. "

" oh dollydial, streamling and cutting business costs does mean lowering my taxes because that office would not require a higher budget from county dollars. I'm all for all county departments cleaning house and cutting costs and keeping more money in my pocket. Perhaps the reason you used to work there is because you don't quite understand taxes. "

" Where have you been MEC... Gloria Peterson announced she was running a week or so ago and we all cheered. She was the interim collector and DID not quit the job. She couldn't run because she was the interum collector. I do understand taxes... I transferred by choice after the present collector came onboard. Gloria is well liked and well known because of her ethics, truthfulness, fairness and ability run the collector's Office. Working for her was a pleasure!!! "

" oh dollydial, streamling and cutting business costs does mean lowering my taxes because that office would not require a higher budget from county dollars. I'm all for all county departments cleaning house and cutting costs and keeping more money in my pocket. Perhaps the reason you used to work there is because you don't quite understand taxes. "

" dolly, I need your help. I didn't see anything about this Gloria running for the postion. I searched this paper for it and all that came up was obituary. Where can I find her press release and credentials as I am interested in all the candidates and their platforms. Thank you. "

" MEC... It was a couple of weeks ago and I don't think articles that old are still available online. There was an article and picture. If I find it, I will let you know. This quote in Sewell's press relase tells it all " "One of my main goals is to achieve a clean audit -- one with no infractions," Sewell said in a news release." Sewell is the bookkeeper so all the audits should be clean, with no infractions. If she can't do it as bookkeeper, she sure can't do it as Collector. "

" Ms Sewell advising the county on Financial Matters? What a joke!!! She's not qualified. The county wouldn't be operating as well as it is with the funds it has if she was advising it. She's a bookeeper with no degree and is she really going to school? Might want to check on that. Rumor has it that she has used the 'school' thing for many years without any follow through. Maybe she advises Hoggatt, which is why the Collector's dept is the mess it is (with Hoggatt's help). And let's not forget that Ms Peterson has been in the dept all this time. What has she done to clean things up? It sure looks like she has just stood around and watched the mess instead of trying to assist Hoggatt in fixing it. Why would we want to elect her there? It's evident she doesn't know what she's doing or certainly watched the audits continue to go bad under her watch. The collector's office needs a CPA and that would exclude MS Sewell and Ms Peterson completely. Let's insist that they get someone qualified to run that office with all the money that flows through. "

" You are correct regarding Sewell going to school. We need to see some proof from UofA that she is enrolled and how many hours she has certified through UofA. You again are correct in regards to Sewell advising Hoggatt. True, Ms. Peterson has been in the office all this time, BUT she is NOT the collector, she is NOT the bookkeeper, she is a dept supervisor. None of these issues fall under her authority. The mess the dept is in falls under Hoggatt and Sewell's authority. 13 members of the Quorum Court appointed her interim collector in 2003. Check Ms Peterson's qualifications. I ask you NOT to include her in the mess within that office. Have you contacted Ms. Peterson to discuss her qualifications and the situation within that office? "

" I have been told that the number 1 priority of Ms. Peterson is that she will ask the Quorum Court to approve the position of a CPA in the Collector's Office. It is impossible to be a bookkeeper or CPA and be the collector also. Ms. Peterson is intelligent herself plus she believes in surrounding herself with intelligent employees. Again, have you talked with Ms. Peterson. It is always best to hear it from the "horse's mouth". "

" In the Daily Record, Sewell states that she is an internal auditor, elected official trainer, financial advisor to the county, and bookkeeping supervisor. I consulted the official document in the County Clerk's office for all Quorum Court approved positions for the Collector's Office. None of these positions were approvved by the Quorum Court to be in that office and therefore do not exisit. The only title that fits her role is bookkeeper. "

" Dollydial, as far as Ms Peterson: she ran for that office the day after Mr Douglas died. The office was in wonderful shape, the books were correct. Ms Peterson initiated 'clearing the office' of anyone that might oppose her in any way. Many good employees were dismissed right as Mr Hoggatt took office...he didn't know these people, Ms Peterson recommended the ones to him to dismiss. Her hands are not clean by any means. She may have name recognition but she has no qualifications to run that office. That office was a joy to visit when Mr Douglas was alive. The staff was happy and joyful and productive. Ms Peterson came in, stripped these grieving people of all that Mr Douglas had given them. She tore that department up in a very short time. I, as a concerned citizen, would never vote for her for any office. She needs to retire like she already has once and not come back. "Crazy Tracy" as they call her, needs to do the same. We need a fresh outlook and CPA as Collector. Nothing else will do. "

" Kipling Boy.. you are SOOOO wrong. I was working there at that time and nothing you say about Ms. Peterson is true. She DID NOT run for office when Mr. Douglas died. She was chosen by the Quorum Court to be interim collector. The office was a great place to work then. Hoggatt is the one that "cleaned house" getting rid of many of the girls AFTER he came in office. Ms. Peterson only dismissed one lady when she came on board. When Ms. Peterson was in office the office was, as you say, "Happy and joyful and productive". The department was not ruined until Hoggatt came on board. As you call her, "Crazy Tracy" Sewell had her hands in on who was gotten rid of. Someone needs to check into the revolving door there has been with the people working for Sewell in the bookkeeping area of the office. When the whim strikes her, she makes their life miserable and gets them fired or they leave on their own. It was known at that time that she had said she could juggle the books on someone if she wanted to get rid of them, making them look like they had made a BIG error when they balanced for the day. "

" I checked out Ms Sewell's college degree enrollment and it is valid. I applaud Ms Peterson for knowing that she is not qualified for the office and wanting to hire a CPA however, if she's not qualified how would she know a good CPA? dolly, the vitriol of your posts indicate a very disgruntled employee. I, as a private business owner, don't need a "happy and joyful" staff. I pay very good money for "productivity". As a taxpayer, I want the best person for the job. Is anyone else throwing in their hat? Oh, dolly a word of caution, be very careful about posting false accusations, i e "book juggling" as you might just get sued for libel. While some of us may enjoy your character assasinations it may prove costly to you. "