MOUNT VERNON — At a meeting on Thursday night, members of the Republican Central Committee who live in the city limits elected Paul Mayville as Mount Vernon auditor.
Mayville, who moved to Mount Vernon 14 years ago from Michigan, replaces Terry Scott.
Scott retired on Sept. 6 after 30 years as auditor. Another long-time staff member in the auditor’s office left on Sept. 5.
Attorney Scott Pullins led a three-member screening committee charged with researching Mayville’s background. Other members included City Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers and former Knox County Treasurer Sandy Mizer.
The search included a news release to local media asking for applicants and talking with other possible candidates. Mayville was the sole applicant.
The committee looked for red flags and risk to the city but found nothing.
“His background was very clean, and the committee’s recommendation is he is highly recommended without qualification,” Pullins said.
“We really like his banking background. … there’s a lot of good training there. We think Mr. Mayville is a great applicant.”
The city auditor’s position has two statutory requirements: living within the city and, in this case, being a Republican.
The Central Committee will file an affidavit verifying Thursday night’s election with the Knox County Board of Elections.
Mayville will leave his current position as an independent financial advisor with Prudential today. He will take the oath of office and begin his new position on Sept. 30.
Mayville’s election runs through 2025. He must run for election for the second half of the unexpired term, 2026-27.
Learning the ropes of Mount Vernon auditor
Samantha Ramsier has been interim auditor since Sept. 7.
“She has been amazing,” Mayville said. “She’s very skilled in a lot of the areas that I am not skilled in, so we are going to depend on her advice.”
Mayville spent time in the Mount Vernon auditor’s office over the past few weeks.
“There’s a lot that needs to be done in that office. It’s surprising how much needs to be done there,” he said. “Do I have the ability to do it? I don’t know. I’m not an accountant; I don’t have that background.
“I do have a background in management, and I manage people. … I know how to put in processes and safeties and dual control. That’s my banking background.”
While he does not have an accounting degree, Mayville has worked in finance. His background includes commercial loans and underwriting.
“I don’t necessarily know this, but I can learn. I’ve done it before,” he said.
Mayville said his employer is the citizens of Mount Vernon.
“I’m a big customer-service person, external customer service and internal,” he said. “So the most important people who will be in my office are the citizens of Mount Vernon. Then, it’s going to be the employees and the departments.
“We work together to get things done, and that’s how we do it. We build that relationship and then you don’t have to worry about it so much.”
Moving forward
One of Mayville’s goals is to cross-train the auditor’s staff. He is also interested in transparency through Ohio Checkbook.
Attending the Municipal Finance Officers conference, public records training, and touring the city’s departments and facilities are also on tap.
“We’re also counting on the city treasurer to take a more active role,” Mayor Matt Starr said.
City Treasurer David Stuller previously was not given access to the auditor’s information, so the city lacked the protection of dual control.
“That’s critical when you have you have two elected finance officers in the city, and one is not functioning fully,” Salyers said.
The administration wants to restructure the auditor’s office and “beef up” the income tax office. Salyers said he also wants to involve city council members so that they understand the need for technology infrastructure that is lacking.
“Also the need for training support in both the treasurer’s office and the auditor’s office,” he said. “We are really going to have to be building that up. I really don’t think the people know the dire situation that is in that [auditor’s] office, but we have addressed it.”
