By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Former Syracuse Clerk-Treasurer Julie Kline and Virginia Cazier, administrative assistant for the Syracuse Public Works and Town Manager Mike Noe, are seeking the Syracuse clerk-treasurer’s office in an upcoming caucus to be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, in the council chambers at the Syracuse Town Hall, 310 N. Huntington St., Syracuse.

The caucus is being held because Paula Kehr-Wicker, the current clerk-treasurer, has resigned effective Sept. 27. Kehr-Wicker and her family will be moving out of the area and eventually out of state in the near future.

Kline has thrown her hat in the ring. She said she would like to finish out Kehr-Wicker’s term. “I loved my job. I really like it, the challenges, working with the public,” she said.

Kline served 12 years as the Syracuse clerk-treasurer and 14 years as a deputy clerk. She is also a certified municipal clerk and is familiar with state board of accounts and Department of Local Government Financing guidelines.

Recently, the Syracuse Town Council had asked Kline to come in as a consultant, after Kehr-Wicker announced her resignation and before she chose to seek the office, to assist the new clerk-treasurer. Kline explained changes are made all the time in the clerk-treasurer’s office.

“There’s new software, new laws, new state board of account regulations, new ordinances, new projects that the new clerk would need to be updated on,” Kline explained. “I was asked if I would be interested in finishing Paula’s term. I would love to do that.”

Cazier said she was seeking the clerk-treasurer’s office “because I wanted to step up. I ran for the primary against Paula (Kehr-Wicker). I know I would be an asset with my experience with being the administrative assistant for public works and working closely with Town Manager Mike Noe,” she said. Cazier also noted during the 2019 primary she was the only Republican to run against Kehr-Wicker.

Cazier would like to see the clerk-treasurer’s office be more involved in the community. “I know it’s a busy job, but I know there’s opportunity to know the community better. That’s what I do in my current position and I love it!”

Cazier explained that by being more involved in the community, it gives residents an opportunity to know who the clerk-treasurer is.

Her experience includes doing two jobs as the administrative assistant for the Town of Syracuse and as Noe’s assistant.

Cazier grew up in Syracuse, she is a graduate of Wawasee High School as are her children. “I love Syracuse, I truly do,” she said. “I want to do more for the town.”