We recently invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 3 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.
Below is the unedited response from Kim Rucker, who is running for Treasurer.
Arlington is where I grew up, where I graduated from Yorktown High School, and where four generations of my family have served the public. When I ask for your vote for County Treasurer, I’m asking you to trust someone who has spent her entire career – in fact, her entire life – rooted in this community.
I have worked in the Arlington County Treasurer’s Office for 34 years. I started at the front counter, learning the job one taxpayer at a time. Over the decades, I took on more and more responsibility, and for 12 years I served as Chief Deputy Treasurer, helping to lead the office day to day.
The Treasurer’s Office is responsible for billing, collecting, safeguarding and disbursing the County’s funds. The office touches nearly every Arlington household. Every dollar that funds our schools, our parks, our public safety, and the services that make Arlington a wonderful place to live, passes through this office. Residents deserve to know that those dollars are handled with care. That is why I am running on four priorities.
- Providing excellent customer service Every resident deserves to be treated with courtesy, to get a straight answer, and to be helped by someone who wants to solve their problem. I’ve built my career on that standard, and I’ll keep holding our office to it. I have expanded our customer service options by extending office hours and maintaining our temporary satellite locations during the recent tax due date. These initiatives allowed more flexibility for taxpayers who couldn’t make it into our office during normal business hours.
- Expanding and modernizing technology – Residents should be able to do business with us easily, securely, and on their own schedule. I will continue to modernize the tools we offer and the systems behind them, while ensuring the Treasurer’s Office remains accessible to every Arlington resident regardless of their access to or comfort with technology. Of course, staff will also always be available to assist residents who prefer phone, email, or in-person service.
- Maintaining Arlington’s record-low tax delinquency rate – That record doesn’t happen by accident; it happens because of strong processes, talented staff, and consistent leadership. Building on the 50% reduction in tax delinquency achieved over my tenure as Chief Deputy, I will continue fair but firm collections to help keep tax bills as low as possible. At the same time, I will proactively engage residents and businesses to resolve outstanding balances and continue to find ways to help struggling taxpayers.
- Ensuring fiscal responsibility – I will ensure that taxpayer dollars are managed carefully and transparently. I will maintain Arlington’s investment principles of safety, liquidity, and yield – in that order of priority. I will seek to maximize returns on County investments while keeping funds secure and accessible. The County’s funds are your funds, and I will continue to manage them prudently and transparently while helping protect the County’s Aaa/AAA/AAA bond rating.
Over my career, I have built strong working relationships across our county government that enable me to collaborate with colleagues to get things done for Arlington. I’ve seen this office through changing technology, leadership, and resident needs, and I care about getting it right. I would be honored to continue serving as your Treasurer, and I’m asking for your vote on or before November 3.
