Sandy Jamison: New county auditor, staff work to improve service

When Eunice Coker last year announced her intention to retire, Sandy Jamison was approached by several people in the county to run for the county auditor position. Before making a decision, Jamison, who has a strong background in management and finance, talked it over with her husband, Rusty, and their kids. The family was supportive as they discussed how it would impact their personal lives, but it was her son, Mitch, who convinced her to go for it.

"You raised us to reach for high goals," she quoted, "now go walk-the-walk that you talk-the-talk about."

Mitch is a junior of Ag Business at the University of Idaho. Jamison's daughter, Heidi Parr, lives in Yakima with her husband Grayson, who is a licensed paramedic. Heidi works for Northwest Farm Credit Services as an ag land appraiser.

Jamison feels her skill set will benefit the office by re-establishing respect for its tasks and show the public that the auditor's office is there for the public.

"I want to leave the county better than I found it," she said.

Jamison is a CPA who received both her bachelors of business management and her masters of business at Washington State University. Near the end of her bachelors program she took the two-day CPA exam which, along with proving to have worked several hours in the field, was required to get the certification. For the most part, she has kept up with the ongoing education required.

Raised in Spokane and graduating from Mead High School, Jamison attended WSU for a total of six years with time at the public accounting firm Ernst and Whinney between the two degrees. After graduating, she returned to Spokane until her marriage to Rusty when she moved to Whitman County, where they have lived and farmed for 29 years.

Jamison has worked as a CPA in public firms through tax seasons, but has mostly held positions in the private sector as a financial officer for companies such as Cascade Aircraft Conversion outside Garfield, or as a cost accountant at Kaiser Aluminum Chemical Corporation, and even for WSU in a grant management position. She also does the accounting work for the family farm which grows wheat, lentils and barley just outside of Garfield.

Jamison, who had not worked in the auditors office, said she has felt welcomed by the staff since she first came into the office.

"We're doing some wonderful things here at the auditor's office. We have already made some internal changes, basically increasing the security of documents, reviewing our internal office controls, and establishing office policy that promotes more efficiency."

Among these changes are cross-training. Now with two people at each desk for Recording and Licensing, they're able to help more people and don't have to close up when only one person has left the office.

Jamison has found less and less free time, but when time does allow, she follows kids' activities and is involved with her church.

She likes to attend estate sales and auctions to collect vintage items. She also has done her fair share of canning vegetables from their garden.