Inyo County Board of Supervisors Accepting Letters of Interest for Appointment to Two Top Positions • Board of Supervisors • 10/30/2024

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The Inyo County Board of Supervisors is now accepting letters of interest from qualified individuals interested in serving as the Inyo County District Attorney or Treasurer-Tax Collector until the next elections in 2028 and 2026, respectively. Both positions will be vacant as of December 31 due to the retirement of D.A. Tom Hardy and Treasurer-Tax Collector Alisha McMurtrie.

The Board of Supervisors is charged with appointing successors for both Hardy and McMurtrie, and has opted to solicit letters of interest from the public, conduct public interviews with the finalists, and make an appointment at two special public meetings, tentatively scheduled for January 14 and January 15.

"This is a significant opportunity to serve the community and ensure the fair and just application of the law in Inyo County, or have a direct influence on the local economy by managing investment portfolios, ensuring efficient tax collection, and helping to fund essential services like schools, roads, and public safety," said Board Chair Matt Kingsley. "We encourage all qualified individuals to consider applying."

Interested parties must submit their letters of interest, resumes, and any relevant professional qualifications to the Inyo County Personnel Office no later than 5 p.m. December 13, 2024 by mailing to P.O. Box 249, Independence, CA 93526, emailing [email protected], or hand delivering to 224 N. Edwards, Independence.

Submissions will be reviewed for eligibility and qualifications, and applicants will be notified if they have been selected to participate in the public interviews on January 14 and January 15. All individuals submitting letters of interest that meet the minimum qualifications will be interviewed.

During the interviews, applicants will be given five (5) minutes to make an oral presentation, followed by questions from the Board of Supervisors. The Board may appoint an individual to the office directly following the interviews or at a subsequent meeting. The start date of the appointment will be mutually agreed upon by the Board of Supervisors and the appointee.

Eligibility requirements for the Office of District Attorney include the following:

• Individuals must be admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State of California (Government Code 24002).

• Individuals must be a registered voter of the County of Inyo at the time of the appointment (Government Code 24001).

Eligibility requirements for Treasurer-Tax Collector include the following, per Government Code 27000.7 and Inyo County Code Section 2.12.020:

• The person has served in a senior financial management position in a county, city, or other public agency dealing with similar financial responsibilities for a continuous period of not less than three years, including, but not limited to, treasurer, tax collector, auditor, auditor-controller, or the chief deputy or an assistant in those offices.

• The person possesses a valid baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in any of the following major fields of study: business administration, public administration, economics, finance, accounting, or a related field, with a minimum of 16 college semester units, or their equivalent, in accounting, auditing, or finance.

• The person possesses a valid certificate issued by the California Board of Accountancy pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, showing that person to be, and a permit authorizing that person to practice as, a certified public accountant.

• The person possesses a valid charter issued by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts showing the person to be designated a Chartered Financial Analyst, with a minimum of 16 college semester units, or their equivalent, in accounting, auditing, or finance.

Additionally, individuals must be registered voters of the County of Inyo at the time of the appointment (Government Code 24001).

More about the position of District Attorney

Inyo County's District Attorney is compensated at the monthly salary of $15,883 (set by Inyo County Code Section 2.88.040) and is entitled to benefits as provided to other County Elected Officers, which include retirement, health, vision, and dental insurance.

The District Attorney is the public prosecutor for Inyo County, charged with instituting and prosecuting court cases against persons charged with or reasonably suspected of committing public offenses. The office reviews law enforcement reports, coordinates investigations, and makes final decisions regarding the filing and prosecution of all adult criminal complaints and juvenile delinquency petitions. The District Attorney's office has the authority to file civil cases related to consumer protection, environmental protection, and public nuisances.

Attorneys from the District Attorney's Office assist in addressing truancy issues in Inyo County Schools through the School Attendance Review Board and other working groups. The District Attorney serves as one of the legal advisors to the Inyo County Grand Jury. When called upon, the District Attorney's Office provides attorneys, investigators, and staff to assist with criminal investigations in other County departments. The District Attorney's Office is also responsible for the prosecution of bail forfeiture proceedings.

In addition to the legal duties of the office, the District Attorney is responsible for the administration and operation of the entire office. The District Attorney supervises three Deputy District Attorneys, three sworn peace officer investigators, a Victim Witness Supervisor, and four additional support staff positions. The District Attorney also works closely with all law enforcement agencies and the courts in Inyo County in the operation of the criminal justice system.

More about the position of Treasurer-Tax Collector

Inyo County's Treasurer-Tax Collector is compensated at the monthly salary of $11,501 (set by Inyo County Code Section 2.88.040) and is entitled to benefits as provided to other County Elected Officers, which include retirement, health, vision, and dental insurance.

The County Treasurer provides investment services that ensure the safety, liquidity, and yield on all public funds on deposit. The office is the depository for all County offices, school districts, other local agencies, and special districts. As the banker for the Treasury Pool participants, the Treasurer is responsible for initiating, receiving, and reconciling over $900,000,000 worth of transactions annually.

The Tax Collector functions include the billing, collection, enforcement, and accounting of over $73,000,000 in annual revenues that benefit all taxing agencies within Inyo County, and a few in adjacent jurisdictions. Real property, personal property, Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), and cannabis taxes are just a few types of tax revenues managed by the department. This department, in conjunction with the Auditor-Controller's office, works to ensure that all checks and balances and internal controls are in place and operating as expected.

While both offices remain vacant, the deputies/assistants of the District Attorney and Treasurer-Tax Collector can continue to legally perform all the duties of their office by virtue of their positions.

The individual appointed to the office of District Attorney is expected to serve out the remainder of Hardy's term that expires December 31, 2028 and the individual appointed to the office of Treasurer-Tax Collector is expected to serve out the remainder of McMurtrie's current term that expires December 31, 2026. If the District Attorney and Treasurer-Tax Collector appointees wish to continue in the positions beyond the current terms, they will have to run for and win election in 2028 and 2026, respectively.

For more information about the election process, filing deadlines, and requirements, interested individuals should contact the Inyo County Clerk-Recorder's Office at (760) 878-0224.

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