Debbie Malzner works for county and serves Russellville schools

Debbie Malzner poses in the Cole County Commission chamber.
Debbie Malzner poses in the Cole County Commission chamber.

RUSSELLVILLE - For the last 27 years, Debbie Malzner has spent her days working in Cole County government. For the last five years, she has volunteered on the Cole County R-1 School Board, serving the last three as president.

Working around politics all day at the Cole County Courthouse, Malzner said, some people questioned why she would want to seek public office.

"I don't feel like it's political; we keep the kids up front and make decisions based on that," she said.

This week, Malzner will preside over the board meeting which may decide to put Proposition CARE (Community Action Reinvesting in Education) on the ballot. The measure would issue a $2 million general obligation bond without increasing the current debt service property tax levy.

Faced with recurrent deficit spending despite making significant cuts to the operating budget, declining enrollment, and looming health insurance increases, the decision will not be easy but it may be necessary, she said.

Serving on the school board had been in the back of her mind for some time. The time was right when her children - Jordan, 18, and Hannah, 14 - were in the fourth and eighth grades.

"There were several respected, long-term members; but I felt they needed a female voice," Malzner said.

Each board member brings his individuals talents and opinions, she said. Her knowledge of Robert's Rules of Order, finances and navigating bureaucracy have been welcome.

"It's fun for me; it's a learning experience," Malzner said. "I didn't know what all went into a school district (before)."

After five years on the board, however, she occasionally has to stop herself from saying "yea" or "nay" during county commission meetings, she said.

The commissioners do welcome her input, which she appreciates, Malzner said.

"That feels good; they're team players just like the school board."

Her time on the school board has given her greater empathy for the community and the role of each group within it during her day job, she said.

"Putting it all together has been a neat aspect to me," Malzner said. "I think I have more a citizen's approach to how decisions are made."

Wherever she is, her Catholic faith sustains her and guides her.

"Being a Christian person helps me to make common sense decisions," Malzner said.

In 1989, she was personally invited by her then-economics professor Jim LePage to work in his county auditor's office full time after graduating from Lincoln University with a degree in accounting.

Before that, she expected to use her degree in combination with her years employed in the banking industry to become a bank examiner.

Instead, she said, she enjoyed the unique experience learning about each department in the county government. And in her 27 years, she has seen them grow.

Then, 14 years ago she became the county's financial officer, where she deals with budgets and human resources for 280 employees.

"I'm accused of being a mother hen with too much compassion for employees sometimes," Malzner said. She defends herself: "If we have no compassion for our employees, they won't have compassion for our citizens."

One of her greatest recent challenges was helping guide employees from a monthly pay period to biweekly, she said.

Whether at work or on the school board, it's the challenge that Malzner finds fulfilling.

Reared among five siblings in St. Martins by a stay-at-home mom and a father who worked for the highway department, Malzner said she is the first in her family to earn a college degree.

That was due in great part to the support of her family and coworkers.

"They encouraged me to keep going to better myself."