Commentary by Diana Cordray
The primary elections for cities and towns will be held in May, 2015. You are an important member of our Republican leadership and I wanted to give you this advanced notice of my intent to seek re-election as Carmel’s Clerk-Treasurer.
During my tenure as Clerk-Treasurer, we have worked together to raise the standards of fiscal transparency and financial reporting. In 2000, we implemented a “laserfiche” system of digital documentation, enabling citizens to access Carmel’s public documents and dramatically increasing transparency in Carmel government. Between 1998 & 2008, we were honored to earn the “Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting” for our work, as well as receiving the Financial Management Award by the Indiana Association of Cities & Towns, as well as becoming IACT President in 2013 – only the eighth female to lead IACT in its 122-year history. In addition, I have served on the National League of Cities “Finance, Administration & Governmental Relations Committee” and was the first Clerk-Treasurer ever to become its Chair.
I have decided to offer myself as candidate for Clerk-Treasurer because I have at least one more goal to accomplish. Democracy cannot exist without transparency. In 2013 the Carmel City Council entrusted me with the task of improving the transparency of the Carmel Redevelopment Commission. Since January 2013, my staff and I have worked vigilantly to scan literally tens of thousands of CRC documents into “laserfiche” making some of those documents publicly accessible for the first time, ever. We have more work to do to improve that transparency.
I have been honored to receive your support in the past, and I hope that I have performed in a fashion worthy of the honor and trust that you have so generously given to me. Moreover, I hope that you consider my efforts as Carmel’s Clerk-Treasurer worthy of your continued support. Public transparency and professional fiscal management are critical to our future as a community, and it is my sincerest goal to continue to maintain the highest of standards in both. With your support, we can succeed together.
With deep appreciation,
Diana L. Cordray
