North Union man to run for county controller office
A North Union Township man announced he will seek the Democratic nomination for the Fayette County controller position in the May primary.
Paul Shipley, a self-employed researcher for the oil and natural gas industry, said that if elected he plans to improve the office’s efficiency.
“I want to be able to come in and bring in better business practices, command more accountability and improve the policies in place,” Shipley said.
Shipley, a Hopwood native and an Iraq war veteran, also said he would like to update the county’s antiquated computer system.
“I have familiarity with county government and county finances through courses that I have taken. I understand finances from being a small business owner,” he said. “I feel this combination makes me an ideal candidate for the position of county controller.”
Shipley operates Shipley Endeavors LLC and attends West Virginia University, where he is on schedule to complete coursework for a bachelor’s degree before the beginning of the controller’s term.
“I am a fiscal conservative. I believe any penny that comes into the county government should be looked at, and every penny that leaves the county government should be looked at twice.”
In addition to the oversight of the county’s revenues and expenditures, the controller audits the accounts of county departments and maintains custody of valuable documents.
The controller also serves as a member of the county salary, retirement and prison boards.
The position’s annual base salary is $50,465.
Jeanine Wrona is the current acting controller. Wrona was appointed in June to serve the remaining unexpired term of former Controller Sean Lally.
Lally resigned from the Fayette County post to take the chief financial officer position in Monroeville borough.
Shipley, a Laurel Highlands High School graduate, is a member of North Union VFW Post 8543, American Legion Post 51, the Catholic War Veterans Post 1669, AMVETS Post 103 and Fayette Masonic Lodge 228. He and his wife, Amber, have three children.
Shipley said his goal in office would be to ensure that state mandated audits are filed by the county correctly and on time.