The candidates for Athens County Treasurer have not spent lavishly on their campaigns to handle the county’s money.
Democrat Bill Bias, who has formerly held the treasurer position, is squaring off against Libertarian Ohio University student Abe Alassaf, who is looking to provide voters with an alternative.
“I want to give (voters) an option over someone that I don’t see fit for the position,” Alassaf said. “I was originally running for commissioner, but I dropped out because there were so many people running. I decided to go for treasurer once I saw that Bill Bias was running.”
Alassaf said Bias is a questionable candidate with a “very shady background.”
“Not bashing, but there are many question marks with him,” Alassaf said. “(I) don’t know if I would want him in charge of collecting and investing the property taxes.”
Alassaf said he bases his claim on previous dealings involving Bias and competing nursing-home companies. Alassaf claims Bias used his political power to chase an opposing nursing-home company out of town to benefit his own.
Bias said the accusations are baseless and do not reveal the better candidate.
“Well, none of this has anything to do with who is better qualified to handle millions of dollars worth of funds,” Bias said. “He has been slinging this stuff the entire time, and these accusations have been proven to have no worth or weight, and I’m tired of dealing with them.”
Bias said his qualifications and experience are the two most important characteristics needed for the position. He held positions as president of Athens City Council and as the chair for the Athens County Democratic Party.
“I believe that I’m more qualified for the position, as I was the former treasurer of Athens,” Bias said. “I’ve been an elected official for 20-plus years and a nursing-home administrator for 30.”
The treasurer’s duties consist of acting as a banker by handling the cash flow of the county. The treasurer is also required to manage investments, as well as local taxes and other fees, such as cigarette taxes and vendor licenses, said Athens County Treasurer Javon Kittle Cooper.
Cooper, a Democrat, said she will support her party’s candidate, but does not want to be involved in campaigning.
Both candidates said they have not been spending large amounts of money on their campaigns.
“I’ve been going door-to-door, calling in to local talk radio,” Alassaf said. “I’m running on the platform of faithfully and honestly collecting the property taxes.”
Alassaf wants to make it possible for residents of the county to pay their property taxes online, based on a Franklin County model, which could cut costs
Bias agreed the online system is worth looking into.
“I have paid my own bills online for many years and certainly feel that it is the way to go,” Bias said. “I want to hear what we would have to do to do this.”
Bias said he feels quite comfortable about his chances, although he hasn’t been doing much on the campaign trail.
“I’ve just done some planning and a little bit of talking,” Bias said. “I feel pretty confident. Every honor voters have given me, I have treated with the utmost respect and have been responsible in my positions.”
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