Republican Ash unopposed for Moniteau County collector nomination

Ellen Ash
Ellen Ash

Ellen Ash is running unopposed for the Republican nomination for Moniteau County collector in the Aug. 7 primary election.

How long have you been a resident? I always have been a resident of Moniteau County.

Work? I have been serving in the role of Moniteau County Collector since July 2017. I was appointed mid-term, following the retirement of Cheryl Duvall. Prior to that, I worked in the California School District as an elementary teacher and also in the Jamestown School District as teacher, principal and superintendent. I retired from education in June 2017 after 30 years in education.

Family: I am married to Lanny Ash, an electrical lineman for Central Electric Power Coop in Jefferson City. We have three children. Our oldest son, Dylan, graduated from Jamestown School in 2016 and serves as a U.S. Navy corpsman. He is stationed in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Isaac will be a senior and Elizabeth will be a sophomore at California High School this fall. My parents are Lashley and Joyce Rohrbach of Jamestown.

Community involvement: We belong to the California United Church of Christ. We enjoy spending time with our church family, whether it is at Sunday school, worship services, or youth group activities. I am a member of California Progress Inc. and the Moniteau County Republican Club. I am also a California Sports Booster Club member and officer.

Contact: The Collector's Office is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please stop by or call us at 573-796-4521. Special holiday hours and other information about the collector's office may be found at moniteaucountycollector.com.

What is your political background? I have been involved in others' political campaigns within the Republican Party in the past, but this is my first political endeavor and my first election.

Why are you seeking this seat and why now? As a school superintendent, I was on the receiving end of the county taxes. I would receive the monthly checks for our school from the county collector, based on the tax rate set for the school district by the board of education. As collector of revenue, I understand the process of calculating taxes based on assessed valuation and tax levy and I feel comfortable handling these important responsibilities. My favorite part of the position, however, is that I get to work with the people of the county. That's why I was so excited to find this role; it's the perfect blend of skills.

What is the most important issue facing this office? First and foremost, I want to be diligent in my efforts to reduce the amount of delinquent taxes on the county's tax books. This involves doing the necessary research in order to keep address files and other information current.

How would you improve Moniteau County, if re-elected? Moniteau County and all of its entities cannot function without tax money to support them. It is important that I be accessible to people, answer their questions, and follow through with them to collect delinquent taxes owed. If everyone does their part, it ultimately keeps everyone's taxes lower.