State lawmaker announces candidacy for state treasurer

The Independent | By Robert Pore on October 15th, 2009

Rep. Tony Fulton of Lincoln, who represents District 29, has announced his candidacy for State Treasurer.

Current state treasurer, Shane Osborn, is not seeking re-election.

“Shane Osborn has been our state treasurer and I think he has done a good job,” Fulton said, who was in Grand Island Wednesday to announce his candidacy. “I have watched very carefully what has gone on in that office and he has accomplished more with less in his budget.”

Fulton said he was expected to be supporting Osborn in his re-election bid for state treasurer.

“But he decided not to seek re-election and that being the case, it was an open seat and it was an opportunity,” Fulton said.

Another consideration for running for state treasurer, is that he will be term-limited in 2012 to run for another term as state legislator.

In 2006. Gov. Dave Heineman appointed Fulton to finish State Auditor Mike Foley’s term representing District 29 in the Nebraska Legislature.

In the legislature, Fulton serves on the Appropriations Committee and as vice-chairman of the Building Maintenance Special Committee. He was also appointed by his colleagues to the Legislature’s Select Committee on Gender and Minority Equity.

Prior to entering politics, Fulton worked as a mechanical engineer for years before opening his own small business, Guardian Angels Homecare, which provides in-home care for the elderly and has about 90 employees in Lancaster County.

Born and raised in Auburn, Fulton attended K-12 public school. His family still lives in Auburn. He graduated from Auburn Senior High in 1990 and moved to Lincoln to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nebraska. He also studied Philosophy at Kansas Newman University in Wichita, and Theology at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emittsburg, M.d.

He married Judy Vandewalle on June 13, 1998 and the couple has five children: Thomas, Augustine, Bede, Bernadette and Basil.

Now in his fourth year as state legislator, Fulton has been a member of the state legislature’s appropriations committee since his appointment to the office by Heineman.

As a member of the appropriations committee, Fulton said has helped crafted the past two state budgets.

Fulton said that knowledge of the legislative process on how the budget is crafted will provide him valuable experience in running the treasurer’s office.

“I can take the knowledge and experience that I have, with respect to our budget, and put it in the service to Nebraska,” he said.

Fulton said the treasurers’ office has a lot of responsibility when it comes to implementing the state’s budget.

“It’s an opportunity, it’s an open seat and I have a skill set and experience that I think I can put to service for Nebraska,” he said.

Fulton said there are three issues, which he will build his campaign on:

– Accountability first and foremost to the people.

– Responsibility in upholding the obligations of the office and the management of resources.

– Transparency in all areas of our state government’s finances.

As a trained mechanical engineer, Fulton said he is versed in technology and hopes to use that skill set to improve that area of transparency in educating Nebraska about how the state’s spends the taxpayers’ dollars.

Fulton said in the area of responsibility, the state defines nine areas of statutory duties for the office of state treasurer.

“I take that very seriously so as people take a look at my record in the state legislature, how I conducted myself and how I have conducted myself in regards to my staff and my small business, also, I take those responsibilities very seriously and we are going to do our job and do it well,” he said. “It’s the state’s checkbook. It’s money and its numbers and it’s something that I have done very well.”

To learn more about Fulton’s campaign, visit his website at www.tonyfulton.com.