Marsha Berzins and Michael Westerberg are facing off this fall over the future of the Arapahoe County treasurer job most recently held by Republican Sue Sandstrom.
Berzins, a small business owner who served on Aurora’s City Council for more than a decade and then ran for mayor, said her experience in the business world made her uniquely qualified to run the office, which is responsible for collecting and investing county funds.
“I know you cannot learn management skills only out of a book. It takes day-to-day, common-sense experience dealing with people,” Berzins wrote in her Sentinel survey. “I have that experience and leadership. I value all people and what they can each contribute. I have been a public servant since my teen years and look forward to many more years.”
Westerberg, a tax attorney, said past treasurers have gotten away with doing the “bare minimum” in office and that he hoped to implement new revenue-generating ideas for the county.
“I have management experience of junior personnel at nearly all my previous employers,” he wrote in his survey. “I do not intend to micromanage, but I do pride myself on my communication skills and collaboration. I have confidence I will be able to communicate a vision and direction to the Treasurer’s Office staff so they have a framework to work within.”
Berzins said on her campaign website that her priorities include fighting fraud, waste and abuse of our tax dollars if elected. Westerberg’s platform includes responsible investing and sharing information about county spending and programs with taxpayers.
When asked about the wisdom of investing county money in mortgage funds, both said the funds have historically been a safe investment, despite the subprime mortgage crisis 15 years ago. Berzins said the funds pose “virtually no risk to the investor” and Westerberg called them “a good, stable investment,” but said he would watch the housing market for signs of a downturn.
Meet Marsha Berzins
Marsha Berzins
Former Aurora City Council member Marsha Berzins is running for Arapahoe County treasurer this fall as a Republican; she is a small business owner and served on the council between 2009 and 2021, including as mayor pro tem. She earned bachelor’s degrees in economics and business administration from Park College and previously studied at the University of Alabama. Berzins and her husband live in Aurora and have five children.
Marsha Berzins Q&A
All elected officials in the county are partisan, but the voters could change the rules to a non-partisan person with the best qualifications.
Many county treasurers invest in some type of mortgage funds, given the history of mortgage fund failures, is that prudent?
The most important consideration in investing county funds is the absolute safety of the investment. According to the Colorado state statutes, a county treasurer can only make investments in the safest and most highly rated investments available. Mortgage funds, offered by the U.S. government, are included on the state’s list of acceptable investments because these funds bundle many thousands of mortgages together to mitigate the risk of failure. These funds are highly rated by the rating agencies and pose virtually no risk to the investor. They are perfectly acceptable as investments for county funds.
The vast majority of the county’s treasury department operations are conducted by trained financial and clerical professionals, not the county treasurer. Since this is essentially a management position, what makes you uniquely qualified for this position?
I have been involved in the business world since graduating college. I have experience in management as a human resource director, small business owner for Birch Electric for many years and an Aurora City Councilwoman for 12 years. I have problem-solving experience and truly care about people. I know you cannot learn management skills only out of a book. It takes day-to-day, common-sense experience dealing with people. I have that experience and leadership. I value all people and what they can each contribute. I have been a public servant since my teen years and look forward to many more years.
If approved by state and federal officials, would it ever be appropriate for county treasurers to invest county funds in bitcoin?
At this point in time, as county treasurer, I would not invest county funds into bitcoin or any other similar cryptocurrency. Funds invested by the treasurer are reserves intended for future use. The value of cryptocurrencies is highly volatile and totally unpredictable. If an investment were to fall in value, which they frequently do, at a time when the funds were needed for payroll or other important expenditures, the county might not be able to satisfy its obligations. Safety and being a good steward of taxpayer money is the primary consideration in investing county funds. In my opinion, cryptocurrencies are not an appropriate investment for county funds because they are not safe.
Do you believe the 2020 Presidential Election was absent of widespread fraud and fairly won by Joe Biden?
The treasurer’s job has nothing to do with the 2020 election. I am looking forward, not backward, to serving the residents of Arapahoe County.
Do you trust the election process in Colorado? And will you accept the outcome of this election as announced?
I believe in election integrity and security. Every vote should count. Amendment I of the Constitution gives the right to the redress of grievances. I don’t think anyone should give up their rights in advance.
Snowmobiling and hiking.
What is the last concert you attended?
Elus Vocal Ensemble.
What restaurant do you frequent most?
Texas Roadhouse.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
The ability to see through lies.
What was the last book you read?
Escape from Auschwitz.
What is your least favorite household chore?
Picking up where my dog left off.
If you had to pick one television show to watch forever, what would it be?
Lost, the series.
Did you have any New Year’s resolutions? What were they?
No, I set goals for myself and try to complete them.
What were you most excited to do after pandemic restrictions eased?
Visiting my favorite small businesses and all my friends without restrictions.
What fun fact about you would most surprise people who know you?
I know how to gut a fish.
Meet Michael Westerberg
Michael Westerberg
Michael Westerberg, a tax attorney and a Democrat, is running for Arapahoe County treasurer. He earned undergraduate degrees in sociology and criminal justice, before attending law school in Arizona and earning a master of laws degree in taxation from the University of Denver. Westerberg lives with his wife in Aurora.
Michael Westerberg Q&A
I believe it’s important to have the treasurer as an elected position as it protects taxpayer dollars from potential corruption or the appearance of corruption that can follow appointed positions. Ultimately, the treasurer is accountable, when elected, to the entire populace of Arapahoe County. Considering this position oversees the money and investments, independence from the commissioners and accountability to the voters is important.
Many county treasurers invest in some type of mortgage funds, given the history of mortgage fund failures, is that prudent?
Despite the 2008 housing crisis, mortgage funds have been a decent, stable investment for most of the housing market’s history. So, yes, as a general rule mortgage funds are a good, stable investment. However, there are many potential signs of a dip in the housing market at this time; when elected, I will continue to watch the market, collaborate with my team and gather expertise to determine if any investment is prudent, including mortgage funds.
The vast majority of the county’s treasury department operations are conducted by trained financial and clerical professionals, not the county treasurer. Since this is essentially a management position, what makes you uniquely qualified for this position?
I agree with you that management of the department is one job of the treasurer; I will push back on saying this role is essentially a management position, however. The Treasurer’s Office has the potential to be a policy and legislative advocate at the Capitol, a budget expert to assist the county commissioners and a source of revenue generation ideas. Given Arapahoe County’s current financial outlook and inability to fund needed programs, I plan on being a driving force to implement revenue-generating ideas and increase our budget to fund the important work of the county.
As noted in the question, previous treasurers have done a really good job of only doing the bare minimum required of them. I intend to use the bare minimum as the floor during my tenure as the Arapahoe County treasurer and not the ceiling. Answering the question at hand, I have management experience of junior personnel at nearly all my previous employers. I do not intend to micromanage, but I do pride myself on my communication skills and collaboration. I have confidence I will be able to communicate a vision and direction to the Treasurer’s Office staff so they have a framework to work within. That vision and direction, given my wealth of education and experience, is the right direction for Arapahoe County and one only I can deliver.
If approved by state and federal officials, would it ever be appropriate for county treasurers to invest county funds in bitcoin?
Given the current state of cryptocurrency — no. Bitcoin is far too volatile — and has been for its entire existence thus far — to be considered a sound investment for public dollars. However, I can imagine a world where many different countries adopt a particular cryptocurrency as their national currency and stabilize that particular crypto currency, which could make it a worthy investment. However, that stabilization and acceptance broadly would have to occur before I would advocate for such investment.
Do you believe the 2020 Presidential Election was absent of widespread fraud and fairly won by Joe Biden?
Yes, and any other answer is devoid of reason and logic.
Do you trust the election process in Colorado? And will you accept the outcome of this election as announced?
Yes, of course. Yes, of course. Colorado has one of the most secure, most accessible and most accurate election systems in the nation.
Get to know Michael Westerberg
I had a Dry Dock (Aurora, CO) Apricot Blonde at a gathering for the hundredth time and, once again, it was pretty good.
What is the last concert you attended?
I attended several this summer unintentionally — such as the Centennial Chalk Art Festival & Centennial Under the Stars — but the last concert I intentionally purchased tickets to and attended was Peter Frampton and Steve Miller Band at Fiddler’s Green (pre-pandemic).
What restaurant do you frequent most?
I can narrow it down to two: Taz Indian Restaurant and The Athenian Restaurant.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
To be able to see the future: think Dr. Strange and the time stone.
What was the last book you read?
I recently finished reading the six Dune books (Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse).
What is your least favorite household chore?
Folding clothes after they come out of the dryer.
If you had to pick one television show to watch forever, what would it be?
What We Do in the Shadows.
Did you have any New Year’s resolutions? What were they?
I intend to take my wife to Italy for our 10th anniversary in 2024, so I resolved to learn Italian. I’m currently about 1/4 of the way through the Duolingo app for Italian.
What were you most excited to do after pandemic restrictions eased?
Go to a major league baseball game.
What fun fact about you would most surprise people who know you?
I have some musical talent. I was a percussionist in high school and can still play a decent trap set. I also sang in the University of Sioux Falls Concert Chorale for several semesters.