ALFRED — In what could be the last election for a York County treasurer, two candidates are running for the open seat.

Democrat Bob Mills of Biddeford has thrown his hat into the ring, as has Republican Bradford Littlefield of Sanford. The current treasurer, Frank Wood, is not running for reelection.

In addition to the treasurer race, also on the ballot is a question as to whether to continue to elect a treasurer or to have the county commissioners appoint one.

If the question to eliminate an elected treasurer fails, the winner of the treasurer election will begin a four-year term on Jan. 1.

Both Mills and Littlefield said they think the county treasurer position should be an elected one.

“I think it’s important to maintain the integrity of having an elected treasurer,” Mills said. “It maintains the needed checks and balances on the system of county financial affairs. It’s been proven in the past that this position is needed when finances are left unchecked. Appointments don’t reflect the will of the people.”

But, he said, “I’ll leave the question of abolishment up the voters of York County,”

Littlefield said the treasurer should be elected. “In July 2007 our Independent treasurer Ms. (Nancy) Auclair found over $1 million in misappropriated funds. She blew the whistle and the commissioners made her life hell. There is no way someone appointed by the commissioners would have done that.

“This is exactly why we need a treasurer who is elected and answers only to the voters,” Littlefield said. “To protect the taxpayers.”

“To have the integrity of Ms. Auclair,” will be the greatest challenge of the position, he said. “The willingness to be attacked and harassed for blowing the whistle on malfeasance by the commissioners. … I have never been afraid to take a difficult stand and I believe and pray that if something like this were to arise again I would have the courage and integrity of Nancy Auclair. Her integrity is what our forefathers envisioned when they made this position elected rather than appointed.”

According to Mills, “the greatest challenge in the position will be learning the processes the county utilizes now and how we can make it better and more efficient.”

Both candidates said serving in county government is important, though each had their own reasons as to why that is.

“York County government is the representative seat for the various communities of the county,” Mills said. “Being involved in county government allows me to be the instrument to actively listen and respond to the communities and county in a timely fashion.”

“As I have done in all my public servant service,” Littlefield said, “I offer myself to represent the public as I believe it is one’s duties to serve in public service and serve to the best of one’ ability to advance the cause of  public interest.”

Mills, who works as an ed tech, behavior health professional and direct support professional, said his years on the Biddeford City Council and on other boards and commissions, and his experience with municipal budgets is the reason people should choose him on Election Day, Nov. 6.

“I have a proven track record of 10-plus years as a city councilor and (on) various boards and commissions in Biddeford. I delved into our city’s and other comparable communities’ financial affairs and budgets. I was and still (am) a fair, impartial decision maker. I’ll continue to (do) the same as the new York County treasurer.”

Littlefield also has city council experience. He said he served for 10 years on the Sanford City Council and on various other boards and commissions. In addition, he said, he is the right choice for York County treasurer because he has more than 30 years of experience in creating government budgets.

“During the 1990’s I was an elected Warrant Committee member and served for about four years until the Town of Sanford changed its charter and developed a modified Finance Committee of which I was appointed to by the Sanford Town Council as their only representative,” Littlefield said. “Then again in 2012, Sanford changed its charter and developed a Budget Committee and I served as the Council’s representative to the Budget Committee and also served in 2013 as the Budget Committee’s vice chair.”