Dean Martin will clean up treasurer mess

Change is desperately needed in the Treasurer's Office. Ex-state Sen. Dean Martin can drive that change.

Published: 10.24.2006

Only one of the state's top five elected officials is not seeking another term, and that is good news indeed for Arizonans.

Treasurer David Petersen has agreed to resign in a plea agreement to resolve allegations of financial improprieties. For several months, Petersen hasn't shown up for work. His four years in office can only be termed a disgrace.

It won't take much for the next treasurer to be an improvement. And there are two solid candidates: Republican Dean Martin and Democrat Rano Singh.

We give the nod to Martin.

Petersen has left a lot of debris, and Martin has the background and understanding to clean up that mess.

Martin has served three terms in the Legislature, representing a Phoenix district. He has chaired the Senate Finance and served on the Appropriations and Commerce committees - experience that gives him a solid understanding of the state's books.

Martin has been one of the leading legislative supporters of open government and has been honored several times for those efforts. He said he would continue that commitment if elected treasurer, bringing transparency to the state's ledgers so anyone can check the books through the office Web site.

Singh, a community college professor and biotech consultant, stresses her management skills. Noting that the last three treasurers have been former legislators, she says it's time for an outsider.

We don't think it is fair to tar Martin with the brush of other legislators' failings. This is a case in which some insider knowledge is helpful.

We also are leery of Singh's call to invest state funds according to a social agenda. She would like to promote university innovation, mass transit, energy conservation and rural economic development. Those are worthwhile undertakings, but not part of the administrative function of the Treasurer's Office.

Martin says the Treasurer's Office desperately needs a change. We strongly agree.

Since Petersen took office, turnover has left the Treasurer's Office with only two people still on staff from four years ago among the 33 total employees.

The Tucson Citizen endorses Dean Martin for state treasurer.