Iola man running for treasurer
By Robert Cloud
A second candidate has entered the race for Waupaca County treasurer.
Mark Sether believes his experience in business and as a community volunteer would benefit the county.
“I feel I have a wide variety of skills that would lead to being a good treasurer,” Sether said.
He has worked as mortgage loan officer with Premier Community Bank in Iola and Marion for the past 12 years.
“My experience includes extensive customer service in providing financial solutions for our customers, whether on a consumer level, including residential home loans and the multiple options available to them, or on the commercial side assisting business owners with their financial needs,” Sether said.
He said his experience dealing with “the unfortunate side of banking” has also taught him how to work with people in difficult situations.
“Managing and securing past due accounts and real estate taxes have been part of my regular duties,” Sether said. “My job requires being involved in collections, judgments and foreclosure actions, and I am accustomed to helping those customers explore their options to attempt a workable solution for all involved.”
Sether noted that a county treasurer’s duties include reaching out to property owners who are behind on their taxes. The treasurer needs to balance the needs of the county to collect owed revenues with a family’s financial struggles.
Sether said he would monitor late payments closely and respond early enough to avoid seriously delinquent taxes.
Prior to working at Premier, Sether was involved in retail for 17 years. He worked at Mills Fleet Farm and advanced to a management position, overseeing operations at the store.
Sether earned an associate’s degree in banking and finance from Fox Valley Technical College in 1984.
“I currently serve on the board of directors for Dupont Mutual Insurance, the Iola Car Show and the Krause Foundation,” Sether said. “My responsibilities include working with various financial reports, budgeting, forecasting and handling of investment funds, as well as providing guidance to the organizations’ leadership for day-to-day operations.”
Sether is also on the revolving loan fund committee for Waupaca County Economic Development, the village of Iola Planning Commission, the finance committee for the Iola-Scandinavia School Board, vice president of the I-S Chamber of Commerce, past president and current treasurer for Iola Lions and the I-S middle school basketball coach.
Sether said his community involvement has given him a broad background of experience working with other managers at the courthouse and with the staff at the treasurer’s office.
“My vision is to come in and become part of a team, to see what works and look at what potentials are there,” Sether said. “I’m not opposed to change, but I think it needs to be for the right reasons and make sense in the long run.”
Sether has lived in Iola with his wife Sarah for 28 years. He has two children, a son who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a daughter who is currently attending UW-La Crosse.