Candidate for Treasurer: Brad Sweet

DAVENPORT- Mayor Brad Sweet is running for Lincoln County Treasurer.

Sweet has been the Mayor of Davenport for the last seven years and has one more year left in his term.

He is currently working for the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office as a jail dispatcher.

"I've been pretty involved with the community my whole life," Sweet said. "Four years ago, I asked Jody Howard if she planned on running again and told her I was interested in doing the job."

"I thought with my experience at city hall and the school board doing budgets, this would be a good next step for me," he added.

Sweet would resign as Mayor if elected, a decision made after a conversation with the state auditor.

"I could still work in dispatch," Sweet said. "Which I plan on doing to start with because they are super short-staffed right now."

Sweet was on the Davenport school board for 10 years.

"I've got to meet a lot of the local school boards," Sweet said. "I worked well with the Treasurer's Office while on the school board doing our bonds."

Sweet has had a positive experience with local government.

"I have been on the volunteer fire department for six years," Sweet said. "My dad is the fire chief; I have helped out the fire commissioners."

Sweet believes Lincoln County is handling money well.

"I haven't been in the office to see how they run everything over there," Sweet said. "I am assuming everything runs good over there; it is always good to double check."

Sweet said the highest dollar amount he has worked with is in the millions.

"I would say highest dollar amount would be $4-5 million for the final school budget when I left the board," he said.

Sweet's experience handling money is well-documented, he said.

"My experience between the school board, mayor and I have also been the treasurer for our Fraternal Order of Police chapter here in Davenport," Sweet said.

The one issue he would like to see resolved within the Treasurer's Office is staffing.

"Making sure there's a staff there to service community members." Sweet said. "I do not think the issue is with the office, but probably with the county commissioners."

"I feel they work limited hours, but they still get a full paycheck," he added. "How is that a benefit to the citizens if they have a concern at 4 p.m. and everyone goes home at 3 p.m. who is there to help them?"

Sweet is running against Emily Lybbert Hansen and Pete Brickner for the position.

BIO:

Office Sought: Treasurer

Age: 40

Family: Single

Hometown: Davenport

Current city of residence: Davenport

Relevant Experience: Davenport mayor, Davenport school board