Choose Peter Tecklenburg for Charleston County auditor

The auditor’s job should be among the least controversial positions that county voters pick. But that’s hardly been the case in Charleston County in recent years.

Taxpayers need greater assurance of competence in the auditor’s job. Democrat Peter Tecklenburg would provide the confidence that is needed.

Mr. Tecklenburg has the professional and academic credentials to meet the challenge of getting property tax bills right and getting them out on time. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of South Carolina, where he focused on local government administration and tax policy.

Until he decided to run for auditor, Mr. Tecklenburg served as assistant director of the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority for seven years. Prior to that, he was operations administrator for the Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration.

Mr. Tecklenburg’s work with CARTA has brought him into contact with many of the elected and appointed officials he would deal with as auditor.

He also has an impressive resume in the civic realm, serving on the Roper-St.Francis Hospital Board of Directors, as chairman of his neighborhood council, and as a mentor in James Simons Elementary School for seven years. And he’s an elected member of the District 10 Constituent School Board.

He stresses the need for the auditor’s office to improve its communication with the public, and ensure that all who owe taxes — for example, car owners and yacht owners — are billed for them. And, he says, taxpayers should be fully apprised of the exemptions to which they are entitled.

The county also needs an auditor who can make the case for legislative changes needed to improve the taxation process. Mr. Tecklenburg could ably meet that challenge.

Given the technical nature of the job, it really shouldn’t be a partisan position, he says, adding, “People want someone they can trust, who can do a good job to get the tax bills out on time.”

Affable, low-key and articulate, Mr. Tecklenburg would provide able leadership as auditor and restore public confidence in the office.