Local bankers got a chance to speak with one of the candidates for Alabama State Treasurer at a meet-and-greet at People’s Bank Thursday morning. 

John McMillan, the current state commissioner of Agriculture and Industries and Republican candidate for State Treasurer, stopped by Cullman to discuss his decision to run for treasurer and his ideas for the office. 

There are no Democratic candidates for the position, so the winner of the primary election in June will be running unopposed for the general election. 

Whoever wins the Republican nomination will also have a longer period of time to work with current state Treasurer Young Boozer to get acclimated to the position, McMillan said. 

The treasurer is responsible for the cash management duties of receiving, depositing and investing all state funds, bond management, unclaimed property, two college savings programs and management of the state’s collateral pool for public funds deposits in the state’s banks. 

The treasurer also plays a role in the managing the Alabama Trust Fund, which is a $2.8 billion investment fund built from the proceeds of the sale of the state’s offshore natural gas reserves.

McMillan said some of the decisions that he made as Agriculture and Industries commissioner to expand Alabama’s oil and gas production had a large impact on the creation of the trust fund, but the state’s management of the fund has been disappointing. 

“If it had been left alone as Gov. [Fob] James originally envisioned, it would be contributing several hundred million dollars a year to the state general fund, and we wouldn’t have some of the problems with corrections and mental health that have really been systemic problems for 30 years or more,” he said. 

McMillan said he has been friends with Boozer for more than two decades, and has spoken at length with him about the office of the treasurer. 

He said he and Boozer both agree that the state’s 529 College Savings Program and Enable Savings Plan are both good programs that provide a service to the people of Alabama, and he wants to do a better job of getting the word out about them if he is elected. 

“We both agree that the treasurer needs to do a better job of promoting those programs,” he said.

With his involvement in the state government and experience with state funding, McMillan said he believes he is qualified for the position and will protect the state’s financial resources. 

“If people look at the candidates, they’ll see that I have the experience and skills to be treasurer,” he said. “That’s all I’m asking for is a fair shot.”