photo by: Contributed photo

Timothy Morland

A 17-year veteran of the Douglas County Treasurer’s Office believes if he becomes the office’s next leader, he can put employees in the best position for them to succeed.

Timothy Morland, 44, a registration and tax clerk, told the Journal-World he has knowledge and experience he can leverage if he is elected the next county treasurer. That knowledge includes knowing strengths of the office’s staff members, he said.

“I’m going to make sure the staff is able to work to their strengths,” Morland said. “I’m excited to put people in positions where they can be the strongest employee.”

Morland is one of two Democratic candidates running in the Aug. 4 primary election to fill the seat that will soon be left by longtime county treasurer Paula Gilchrist. The county treasurer’s office oversees residents’ motor vehicle registrations and property taxes.

Morland, who has worked for the office since 2003, previously said that he may be most recognizable to the public as the clerk for the office’s satellite location at Dillons, 3000 W. Sixth St. He said he considers his current role to be the “public face of county government” and he has always enjoyed serving the public.

“I look forward to the opportunity to continue the tradition of reliable and courteous service that the county provides while recognizing the challenges of delivering a consistent experience in these uncertain times,” Morland said, referring to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

If elected, Morland said he would like to use technology to implement new strategies and solutions to keep the office working efficiently. He said the treasurer’s office has done that during the pandemic. The treasurer’s office has mostly been closed to walk-in business, serving residents through in-person appointments, or through mail, phone and online avenues.

Morland said the office has been adapting to provide more services online, a move he wants to make sure continues. But he also wants to work on new ways to serve people in person during the pandemic, he said.

“We are communicating with customers in new and different ways,” Morland said. “We need to continue tailoring our services to offer new ways to work together to get things done.”

Morland has lived in Douglas County since 2000, when he began attending the University of Kansas. He said he did not earn a degree from the university.

He and his wife, Kristin, decided to stay in Lawrence and now have two children.