Steve Oliver
Candidate for County Treasurer
Whatcom County, Washington
www.electsteveoliver.com

WINNER: Oliver 65.7%, Elenbaas 34.3%

With nearly a decade in the treasurer’s office and the endorsements of the state treasurer and more than 30 county treasurers statewide, a lifetime of public and community service, and a proven record of leadership, Lummi tribal member Steve Oliver is the man to lead as Whatcom County Treasurer.

A veteran of the Treasurer’s office for nearly a decade, Steve Oliver is ready to serve as Whatcom County Treasurer with the experience, the know-how, and the vision to lead from Day One. As Chief Deputy Treasurer, Oliver has spent years making the most of taxpayers’ money, finding and implementing efficiencies in daily operations and optimizing service delivery for the county’s residents. His work has earned him the endorsement not only of the outgoing Whatcom County Treasurer, but more than 30 other county treasurers across the state.

In addition to mastering the management and budgeting process of the Treasurer’s Office, Steve Oliver knows how to represent the people he serves. Oliver served two terms on the Ferndale City Council, where he led the development of the city’s financial policies, refinanced city debt to save families money, and saved the city over $1 million by recommending and hiring the city’s first treasurer.

Steve Oliver serves his community outside of public office, too. He currently leads the Ferndale Boys & Girls Club as Board President and protects children and families as a representative on the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic Violence. Oliver resides with his wife and two children in Ferndale, where they have lived since 1990.

 
The Situation
Oliver is competing in the seat’s first contested election in 16 years, facing an opponent with a record of gun incidents, racial epithets, and tax delinquency – not the sort of leadership the citizens of Whatcom County expect in their Treasurer. The opponent, former state Senator Joe Elenbaas, was charged last year with obstructing a law enforcement officer for threatening a policemen that he could “get a firearm” from his vehicle. He has previously offended residents of Sudden Valley by referring to its community association’s spending habits with a racial slur, while according to the County Assessor, Elenbaas owes interest and penalties on his taxes.

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