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Melissa Whitesell has been serving the citizens of Rockbridge County across a variety of organizations and departments for the past 25 years, including nearly a decade in the Rockbridge County treasurer’s office. She is the only candidate running for county treasurer to have previously served in the office.
“Once I became aware that the current treasurer would be retiring I felt that, because of my experience, I was in a position where I could continue my service to the citizens of Rockbridge County as their next treasurer,” she told The News-Gazette. “Having worked in the office, I have knowledge of the day-today operations. I look forward to the possibility of serving as the next treasurer and continuing my service to the citizens with professionalism and respect.”
In addition to working in the county treasurer’s office, Whitesell has worked for Rockbridge County Public Schools, for the comptroller in the Student Accounting Office at the Virginia Military Institute and, most recently, for the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office, where she is currently assigned to the courthouse as a bailiff.
If elected as treasurer, Whitesell says she will work to make sure that anyone who comes into the treasurer’s office is “greeted in a prompt and courteous manner” and that she will do her best to make the process of paying county taxes “as painless as possible” for citizens of Rockbridge County, including looking into the possibility of allowing people to pay with credit or debit cards, a question she says she’s been asked frequently during the campaign.
“I will ensure that my team is trained, as well as myself, through classes offered by the treasurer’s association,” she said. “I will work closely with county administration and the Board of Supervisors regarding all financial matters. I will be a hands-on treasurer and always have an open door policy to speak to citizen’s concerns.”
