JOHN SHARP ENDORSES NELDA WELLS SPEARS
Former State Comptroller Cites 99 Percent Tax Collection Rate, Steady Fiscal Leadership, Unquestioned Integrity in Travis Co. Tax Collector’s Re-Election Bid
(AUSTIN) — Former State Comptroller John Sharp, one of the nation’s leading experts on tax policy and public finance, today endorsed Travis County Tax Collector Nelda Wells Spears in her re-election bid next year, saying that her steady fiscal leadership, unquestioned integrity, and best-in-Texas job performance have set the standard for county tax offices across the state.
“Nelda won my support the old-fashioned way,” Sharp said. “She earned it.”
Sharp, who served two successful terms as State Comptroller, the state’s chief financial officer, said he appreciates Ms. Spears’ ability to balance the rights of small businesses, corporations, and individual taxpayers while also being re-elected in 2004 with more votes than any other candidate on the Travis County ballot.
“When the tax collector is also the top vote-getter, you know she must be special,” Sharp said.
Sharp also praised Ms. Spears’ record on voter registration, citing Travis County’s 94 percent registration rate, the highest of any major county in Texas.
“Nelda’s commitment to excellence and opportunity in Travis County proves that our community is strongest when its rich diversity is reflected in our elected leadership,” Sharp said.
As State Comptroller, Sharp gained a reputation for innovative policies to hold the line on new taxes while safeguarding vital services. He worked closely with local tax collectors across the state, including Ms. Spears, who trained in the State Comptroller’s office under Sharp’s predecessor, Bob Bullock.
Ms. Spears manages more than 130 employees who process 1.3 million tax and fee payments each year, collect more than $2 billion in local taxes and fees, and actively register and protect the data of more than half-a-million voters. Certified by the State Board of Tax Professional Examiners, she recently received the prestigious Best Practices Award for Exceptional Delivery of Services by her peers in the Texas Association of Counties Leadership Foundation. She also received the 2007 ComputerWorld Honors Laureate for the Application of the latest technology to improve access for taxpayers and small businesses.
The Democratic primary will be held on March 4, 2008. The general election is November 4, 2008.
