A political newcomer with accounting and administration experience plans to run for Dawson County tax commissioner.
Karin McKee, 58, is the first candidate to announce her intentions to seek the position in the July 31 primary election. Qualifying is set for May 23-25.
The office is held by Linda Townley, who is expected to seek a third term but hasn't formally announced her re-election campaign.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to serve the citizens of our county in the tax commissioner capacity," said McKee, a Republican.
McKee said one of her main goals is to improve operations at the tax commissioner's office that would result in more efficient service for residents and businesses.
"As a resident and taxpayer I have observed what I believe are missed opportunities for our tax commissioner's office to provide excellent customer service to the county's citizens," she said.
If elected, McKee said she would reopen the tax office annex on Hwy. 53 to provide greater convenience. She would also restructure the hours the tax office is open to match those of the other county departments.
Both steps, she said, could result in a more efficient, customer-friendly environment.
McKee also said she hopes to improve communications with the county commission.
Her goals also include instituting transparency in the operations of the office, through bids for contracts, and implementing an open-door policy, while maintaining visibility and availability to handle ongoing issues.
McKee retired from a career in the nursing home industry in 1998. While in that field, she held roles in a number of areas, including accounting and administration.
She spent the past 14 years managing elderly subsidized housing with responsibilities that ranged from daily operations and verifying resident eligibility to budgets and accounts.
During this same time, she also handled all accounting functions for a family-owned small business.
McKee and her husband of 40 years, John, have lived in Dawson County for five years. They have two children, Brent and David, and two grandchildren.