Paul Talley running for Linn County treasurer

CEDAR RAPIDS — A second candidate has announced he is entering the race for Linn County treasurer.

Paul Talley, 61, of Cedar Rapids, is running as a Republican. He said he has the desire to lead the Treasurer’s Office to be an “efficient and professional” team.

“With the help and joint cooperation of the Linn County Treasurer's Office, the Iowa (Department of Transportation) and the Linn County (Information Technology) department, there should be very little reason to come into the office for renewals, or payment of taxes in the future,” Talley said.

“To accomplish this it is imperative the payment technology be superior and secure. This would protect the Linn County residents and the Treasurer’s Office from potential fraud,” he said.

Talley attended school at DeVry University and Mount Mercy where he earned bachelor degrees in telecommunications management and business and finance. He also earned his master’s in business and human resources.

He is currently a lean sigma technician at Whirlpool in Amana.

“I work to maximize the efficiency within the plant to get the right parts to the production floor in a cyclical manner,” he said. “This experience should lend itself well to help efficiencies in the Treasurer’s Office.”

Talley said communication and transparency is essential in the office, and he would have an “open-door policy” if elected.

“I’ll be readily available as time and schedule will permit,” Talley said. “I’m not the type to avoid questions or suggestions. Every solution starts with a question, then a suggestion before a solution can come about.”

Talley joins former Linn County Supervisor and current county employee Brent Oleson in the race for the treasurer seat. Oleson, 51, announced his run last month. The former Republican-turned-Democrat was elected as a county supervisor in 2008 and served through 2020.

Current treasurer Sharon Gonzalez said she is retiring when her term ends this year.

Gonzalez, 61, has been Linn County treasurer since 2010 and a county employee since 1979. Gonzalez’s first job with the county was as a renewal clerk. She then worked as a title clerk and became deputy treasurer in 1986 under then-Treasurer Michael Stevenson. When he retired in 2010, Gonzalez ran for the job as a Democrat and won.

She now has a staff of 33 and four deputies. The treasurer’s job currently pays $119,198 per year.

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