I am incredibly saddened by the attacks on Allison Aichele, the La Plata County treasurer.
I worked closely with Allison for her first three years as treasurer before I moved last December and left my job in county administration. Allison has done a great job bringing the treasurer’s office up to the standards that we as taxpayers deserve.
Ed Murray, past treasurer and great guy, held the job for 28 years, but really didn’t want to do the tough work of modernizing the office in his last years there before retirement. Change is hard for most of us. Allison took on the challenge with intelligence and gusto. I did numerous facilitated meetings with her staff – she did a vast amount of research and review with treasurers around the state. She and I together did a lengthy research project utilizing the state treasurers association and many other resources to ensure that she was not missing a tiny detail of this complicated and important office.
Allison is guilty of two things; being a change agent in an office that desperately needed to change and, most importantly, staying independent from the pressures of certain county leadership who want to control her office. Allison spoke truth to power and made some people uncomfortable.
Voters, please don’t succumb to the misinformation hurled at Allison by folks willing to bully and tell untruths. She is a smart, hardworking, overly honest and independent woman. It is to our benefit that she has been willing to serve.
Susan Hakanson
Albuquerque
