Democrats Running For Treasurer Want The Office To Have Expanded Role

The two Democrats are running in next week’s primary for Wisconsin state treasurer both want to make the office stronger, but to different degrees.

The office of Wisconsin treasurer has few official responsibilities anymore, after lawmakers shifted staffers and responsibilities to the Department of Revenue last year.

Retired probation and parole agent Dave Sartori wants to bring those employees and duties back to the Treasurer’s office. He blames the state’s backlog in unclaimed property, in part, to the transfer of that responsibility from the treasurer, an elected position, to the revenue secretary, who is unelected.

He said putting things back would improve accountability.

“I don’t think you get this in a bureaucratic type of organization,” said Sartori. “You get it in an elected organization.”

Sartori calls his goals “obtainable, realistic, and responsible.”

Madison attorney and former Green County prosecutor Dave Leeper has a more ambitious agenda. He wants to create a state-run bank, similar to North Dakota’s. He said it would serve Wisconsinites better and more affordably than private institutions.

He also wants the office to become active in minding state government’s finances, and act as a public advocate.

“The Wisconsin treasurer has a chance to look at the financial health of the state, make reports, make recommendations, and expose problems,” said Leeper.

The winner of Tuesday’s primary faces one of two Republicans — either Randall Melchert or Matt Adamczyk — in the November general election.