A candidate for Utah Republican Party Treasurer, Jared Belcher is seeking election by the Utah State Republican Central Committee to replace former Treasurer Dave Crittenden. This is the first in a series of brief profiles on those who have filed to run for election to the spot. As information comes out, I will update the profiles here.
Utah Republican Party Treasurer Candidate Profile:
Jared Belcher was one of two candidates who filed for election on the last day of eligibility. His background brings the experience needed to liaise a federal audit. He currently works for a Fortune 500 company and has been involved in numerous audits over the years including PCI compliance audits related to access to customer credit card data; Federal audits related to APIS and TSA Watchlist controls and access; as well as internal accounting audits involving the balance sheets of thousands of accounts.
He is not an accountant, but he has been the CEO (Chief Everything Officer) of two small companies that he ran for a number of years. His current full-time job is in software testing and business analysis. He is responsible for the successful planning, testing, and deployment of various computer programs used by hundreds of simultaneous users in an airline reservation center.
3 Questions
Q: What are your thoughts on the caucus? Why should we keep it or move to a direct primary?
A: I love the current caucus system. The caucus system is the best way to keep politicians accountable to voters. Without it politicians are accountable to media and big money donors. A direct primary produces lower voter turnout and a field of candidates that are not vetted by the voters.
Q: What do you feel the most important duties of the Utah Republican Party Treasurer? What qualifications do you have that make you feel like you are the right man for the job?
A: The treasurer needs to be analytical and organized to work through all the receipts and filings required of the party. I have many years experience pouring through legal and technical documents and interpreting what that means to others in their jobs. This experience will be needed as we go through the upcoming FEC audit of the party.
Q: Chairman Evans has noted in a letter to state central committee members that he feels a technology background is important to the position. Do you feel that is the case? Why do you feel that way?
A: I do feel a tech background is important but not critical. My current job involves testing software programs used by a Fortune 500 company in their reservations system. I coordinate between the business users of the programs and the developers to ensure the tool meets the requirements.
The reason a tech background is important is that the upcoming caucuses will likely be using a software program for inputting and managing caucus attendees and elected delegates. With the tight turnaround from caucuses to conventions the candidates and the party need the delegate lists as soon as possible. I will take the time to test the program and either confirm it is ready, or let the county parties know in time to make alternate plans for data collection.
Beau Sorensen is COO of First Choice Home Health & Hospice and VisionBound International. He has been in healthcare for over 17 years and has been heavily involved in politics since he was 11.
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