WARREN Leon-Games faces political newcomer in treasurer race

The treasurer's position will be part time at the beginning of the term.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Changes to the city treasurer's position have not deterred incumbent Patricia Leon-Games from seeking re-election.
Voters in the May 8 Democratic primary will choose between Leon-Games and political newcomer John Taylor.
Leon-Games was elected in 1990 and is seeking her fourth term.
A state performance audit released earlier this year was critical of Leon-Games' department, saying it was not proactive with collections, as it could have been generating as much as $2.2 million more each year.
The city laid off employees in 2000, when parks closed and other cuts were made, to head off a budget shortfall.
Defends department: The treasurer maintains her understaffed department did the best it could, and has said the audit was based in part on incorrect information.
The state auditor's office has said it stands behind its findings.
Despite the criticism, the income tax department, under Leon-Games' leadership, boasted record collections in 2000, bringing in about $14.6 million, as compared with about $14 million in 1999.
The treasurer said this was accomplished even though the city's population and economic base has been declining.
Council voted earlier this year to make the treasurer's position part time to handle city investments. A tax administrator will be hired to handle collections, but a job description for both has not been drafted.
Leon-Games said she could not comment on specific aspects of the job because duties have not been mapped out.
"I haven't been told what this job entails," she said, adding that it's unfair that duties will be spelled out after the election.
She did say her priority, if elected, will be to "provide good and honest service to all the residents of Warren."
Higher costs: In the past, the treasurer has said she doesn't mind the position will be part time and has pointed out the city will pay more for a part-time treasurer than what she's paid now.
Leon-Games checked with officials in Niles, also a statutory city, and was told a part-time treasurer there is paid $7,500 a year, a clerk is paid about $25,000 a year and a tax administrator earns about $37,000 per year.
This is nearly $70,000, compared with her annual salary of about $50,000, she said.
Challenger: Taylor has a full-time job as president of Paige & amp; Byrnes Insurance, and said he joined the race only after finding out the position would be part time.
He said someone close to city politics suggested he run because of his financial background, but he declined to say who.
He said he wants to restore confidence in the treasurer's office and "to make certain the investments are receiving the highest interest rate without sacrificing the safety of the principal."
Taylor, originally from Selma, Ala., is also a member of Trumbull 100, a nonprofit organization working to enhance local schools.
Received honor: He was recognized in March by the national Points of Light Foundation, along with Clyde "Skip" Cole, a fellow Trumbull 100 member, for their role in buying properties in the crime-ridden Westlawn neighborhood, which has been torn down.
Trumbull 100 also raised funds to upgrade libraries in all of the city's elementary schools.
Taylor called the city's financial situation "pretty desperate," saying he believes his experience can help the city get the best return on its investments.
He said he supports the proposed 0.5 percent income tax increase, also on the May ballot, because funds are needed to bring back laid off police and firefighters, which could free up other funds to open parks and pave streets.
"We're all in one lifeboat," Taylor said. "We've got to get everybody paddling in the same direction."
Some officials have said Leon-Games has campaigned against the tax increase.
While she admits she does not agree with all administrative spending practices, she said she does want the issue to pass so safety services are restored.