NMSTO News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — For the Long Term (FTLT) today highlighted the historic election of Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar as Second Vice President of the National Association of Counties (NACo), a milestone that puts a public finance professional on track to potentially lead one of America’s most influential local government organizations.
As Coconino County Treasurer, Benatar has built a national reputation for fiscal stewardship, transforming treasury operations through transparency, innovation, and efficiency. Benatar’s campaign theme, “When counties decide, communities thrive”, captures the importance of empowering local leaders to address the challenges and opportunities their communities face.
Benatar’s election marks several firsts in NACo’s 90-year history. She’s the first county treasurer ever elected to a NACo officer position, the first Latina to hold a NACo officer role, and the first officer since 1938 to come from a county row office rather than a board of commissioners.
Sarah’s election is bigger than any one office or individual,” said Dave Wallack, Executive Director of For the Long Term. “It is a reminder that leadership can emerge from anywhere in government. County treasurers spend their careers thinking in decades rather than election cycles—about infrastructure, fiscal resilience, and the obligations we owe future generations. NACo’s members have sent a powerful message: those perspectives matter.”
“I am thrilled that Treasurer Sarah Benatar made history two-fold by being elected the first ever county treasurer to serve on the leadership of NACo. I am even more excited because she also represents the Latino community, both important factors especially in today’s economic and political environment. It is critical for a treasurer to be at the table when moving counties forward,” said New Mexico State Treasurer Laura M. Montoya. “Sarah is an inclusive leader that focuses on collaboration while prioritizing fiscal responsibility in policy making. She will be a great asset to county leaders across this nation.”
New Mexico State Treasurer Laura M. Montoya served 8 years as Sandoval County Treasurer and was Vice Chair of Finance, Pension, and Intergovernmental Affairs (FPIGA), a NACo committee for six years with Treasurer Benatar.
FTLT believes Benatar’s election creates an opportunity to elevate conversations around long-term community prosperity, rural resilience, infrastructure and housing, workforce transitions in the AI economy, public finance innovation, intergenerational stewardship, and capital allocation in local government.
