Incumbent Joe Aiello faces newcomer Daniel Pittman in race for Sangamon County treasurer

Incumbent Sangamon County Treasurer Joe Aiello and newcomer Daniel Pittman face off on Nov. 8.

Both Aiello, a Republican, and Pittman, a Democrat, were unopposed in the June 28 primaries.

This is Pittman's first time running for elected office. He has received endorsements from Vote Vets, New Politics and Run For Something.

Aiello works closely with organizations such as Veterans Administration, American Legion, St. John's Breadline and others.

As for endorsements, "The most important endorsement is from the voter on Election Day," Aiello said.

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Daniel Pittman

Pittman, 38, moved from Champaign-Urbana to Springfield after middle school and attended Springfield Southeast High School. He joined the Marine Corps after high school. He now works as a Healthcare and Family Services public service administrator.

Pittman also coaches basketball at Little Flower School and coaches track at Blessed Sacrament. He is married with two children.

Joe Aiello

Joe Aiello was born and raised in Springfield. He has been married for 31 years to his wife, Mary. They have three children — two daughters and one son.

Aiello was the Sangamon County clerk for 22 years. Then he worked in Vital Records for the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Pittman's top three issues

Pittman believes the office can do more outreach to the community.

"The issues that are probably most important to the office and the things we don't do very well — We don't do great community outreach. The fact is that the office itself is mostly management. You're limited in the things you can invest money in. The best way to affect change in the office is by doing good personnel management and understanding the people you serve. I would really love, as part of our community outreach initiative, to go out once a month to outlying areas. Send some of our personnel out there to interact and explain property taxes," Pittman said.

"Secondly, we can do a better job of ethically and efficiently investing our funds. I'm not insinuating they're doing anything specifically wrong, but there is a certain level of responsibility when you have money for the community, to ensure that the money is going the best uses. Ensuring that the values that come with this community follow the money is a big thing."

Pittman said another issue is hours the office is open.

"The office shows a lack of extending hours. We have to understand our community works for a living. This whole thing where we shut down at 4 p.m. and we don't open on Saturdays and we're never open on holidays."

Aiello's top three issues

Customer service is the highest priority according to Aiello.

"I've always been big on customer service. The customer pays the bill and we need a good relationship between our office and the customer. People come to us to make a payment or they just don't understand the structure of a tax bill or the structure of assessments. So we're there to provide assistance and direction to the customer," Aiello said. "Highest priority is preserving and protecting the integrity of the relationship with a customer and preserving and protecting the County's moneys. We manage $400 million for the County. We have to be careful with that money. We don't take any risks with that money."

The treasurer said efficiency is a top priority for the office.

"In the nearly four years that I've been there, we have been able to save the taxpayers approximately $3 million through efficiencies in our operation," Aiello said. Voter and taxpayer outreach is also a factor in efficiency according to Aiello. "When I got into the office, approximately four years ago, shortly after that, we launched a new financial system and we created some things within the financial system that increase barriers for cyber crimes," Aiello said. "We're in the midst of putting out a Request For Proposal for the new tax system which will include property taxes, property tax bills, property tax extension. There are 175 taxing bodies in Sangamon County that get money from the tax payers. We then collect taxes and distribute them to those taxing bodies. That system is being updated and upgraded. " Aiello said the office is also looking into other ways to collect taxes in an efficient manner such as electronic payments and Illinois National Bank drive through.

Expansion of services is a matter important.

"We have created more services with regard to helping the homeless community. We have sponsored a program, through my leadership, that has provided 20,000 meals to the homeless sense the pandemic. We also created a line item of $250,000 annually for the homeless initiative. We've helped pay for day services at the Washington Street Mission," Aiello said.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Meet Sangamon County treasurer candidates Daniel Pittman, Joe Aiello