Replace Crane with Silver

Ron Crane, Idaho’s treasurer, is bad at his job.

But it’s not me saying that, it’s the auditors of the Idaho Legislative Services Office who have discovered numerous problems. Crane’s responses have been to deny the auditors’ findings and suggest they are bad at their job.

The major function of the Treasurer’s Office is to manage the state’s cash, and invest it conservatively. And that’s where he’s really bad at his job. The most recent audit report indicates that the Treasurer’s Office “inappropriately transferred investments … resulting in a disproportionate share of investment losses incurred by the state.” The investments were downgraded mortgage-backed securities that were worth $10.2 million (33 percent) less than the transfer price.

So, not only is Crane bad at conservative investing, he’s also guilty of shoddy accounting for those investments.

With 16 years in office, he has refused to debate his opponents. Why? Because he’s a Republican in a very Republican state. Voters deserve better. Voters deserve a public debate.

His Democratic opponent is Deborah Silver, a CPA from Twin Falls. She has a long history of financial consulting and business management. She’s good at her job and will be good as our treasurer.

Bob Wynhausen

Sandpoint