Suiter stepping down as county treasurer

Suiter stepping down as county treasurer

Charlie Suiter ending tenure six months early to tend to family concerns, calls job ‘ best experience of my life’

news@theeveningtimes.com

When Charlie Suiter was elected County Treasurer in 2014 he thought he would never leave. He had found his dream job and envisioned staying until he was in his 70s.

But when his father’s declining health forced him to devote more and more time to the family construction business, Suiter decided his family needed him more.

Suiter will be leaving his job at the end of this week — six months before his term ends — to attend to family matters.

“It’s been the best experience of my life,” Suiter said. “But my family is more important to me and right now they need me.

I’ve been burning the candle at both ends and I can’t do both any more. I need to devote my time and energy to the family business.

Suiter Construction pretty much takes up 100 percent of my time.”

Suiter, who was elected in 2014 following the death of William Ledbetter, said serving as treasurer has been a humbling experience.

He said working with his childhood friend, County Judge Woody Wheeless, was a blessing and made the job a whole lot easier.

The two men shared a special bond which helped see the county through a tough time following the loss of its hospital. Suiter was the first elected official to publicly come out and support Wheeless’s call for an election to consider a special tax to support construction of a new hospital.

“I could not have had a better partner than Woody,” Suiter said. “ We’ve always been open and honest with each other. We’ve always told each other the truth.

And we have one rule when we go to work — do what’s best for the county. We don’t have to check with each other. We don’t have to have each others blessings. Just do what’s right.

So I couldn’t have worked for a better person. It is just wonderful to see that Woody is so proactive in his job and looks out for the little guy.”

Suiter was able to lend his construction expertise helping the county purchase and install a new heating and cooling system, getting a grant for new windows and a paint job for the courthouse, and overseeing the complete renovation of the first floor of the courthouse.

But by far the best part of his job has been all of the citizens he has met.

“To greet the citizens when they walk in the building and don’t know which way to turn, that’s what I will miss the most,” Suiter said. “I’ve built so many relationships that are going to last a lifetime up at the courthouse, and so many people in the public that I had never met before.”

Suiter credited the Quorum Court for making good decisions which have helped the county grow and stay financially solid.

“You have people from all different walks of life who can sit in a room and agree with each other,” Suiter said. “They hold it in such respect because of the 50,000 people they represent, that we can come to a common ground for the people.”

Although he is leaving early, Suiter said it is actually a good time to depart.

The budget has already been set, the revenue projections are holding steady, and the citizens have two outstanding candidates running for the office.

“The county has never been stronger financially at any time in its history than it is now,” Suiter said.

“And we have two bright young men who are super skilled running. Fortunately I have a trade and a career to fall back on. It just humbles me to think that the people of this county gave me this trust.”

Wheeless said Suiter has done an outstanding job for the county and will be missed.

“I hate to see Charlie go,” Wheeless said. “But I totally understand. Charlie is a family person and family comes first. As the county judge, the treasurer is the official I work with the most. Charlie and I grew up together. He was easy to work with and we had a great relationship. I’m going to miss him.”

The Quorum Court will meet on Tuesday to declare the office vacant. Jane Coltharp is expected to be named interim County Treasurer to serve out the remainder of the term through January.

“Jane has over 20 years experience in that office and will be able to step right in to that job,” Wheeless said. “So we’ll be in good hands for the next six months.”

Suiter agreed.

“Jane is the financial backbone of this county,” Suiter said. “ Jane is the type who trains treasurers.”

Suiter said when he handed in his resignation letter Wheeless asked him if he wanted a copy and he choked up a bit.

“I told him no,” Suiter said. “I’ll cry if I read it.

Working for the county has been the most rewarding thing I could ever have done.”

By Mark Randall