A Familiar Face in the Treasurer's Office

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Matt Evans has officially served as Treasurer for Clarendon County since winning his first election to the office in 2002. Recently, he was sworn in to continue his dedication to the county by being elected to his fifth term as Treasurer. Evans has worked in the Treasurer's office for almost 35 years in various job descriptions. Each term as Treasurer or county Auditor lasts for four years, beginning July 1 after the election and ending June 30. “I can't imagine working in any other field of work,” said Evans. “I look at my role as Treasurer to be a career, not just a position. I have always enjoyed working in public service, and look forward to many more years right here serving the residents of Clarendon County. It is very rewarding to help taxpayers understand the tax system, and to find tax breaks to ease the financial strain on their families.” Evans began his career in 1985 under the watchful eye of Margaret Jackson, who was the County Treasurer at the time. He would split his time working for six months in the Treasurer's office, then work in the office of the Clarendon County Administrator John Ervin Thames for the following six months. Once Jackson saw the dedication and hard work of Evans, she appointed him to become Deputy Treasurer to assist her with the responsibilities of her office. Evans would maintain that position until Jackson retired, then ran for and won the election in 2002 to become Treasurer. Evans graduated from Salem High School, then attended college at Francis Marion University in Florence. In 1985, he earned his Bachelors degree in Business, with a concentration on Accounting. Evans decided to pursue his Masters degree in Public Administration at Francis Marion University and successfully completed it in 1999. Evans married his wife, Lynn, in May 1993. Their son, Matthew, was born a few years later. The Evans family would soon expand in 1997 to include twin girls, Sarah-Margaret and Mary-Catherine. Sadly, Sarah-Margaret passed away in 2011 due to health reasons. Since taking office for the first time, Evans has been instrumental in bringing changes to Clarendon County. South Carolina introduced a new computer system that allowed county Treasurer's offices to accept payment for vehicle taxes, then immediately issue the decals for the license plates. In the past, a taxpayer would pay the taxes, then take that receipt to Department of Motor Vehicles to receive their license plate decals. In 2005, Evans was successful in bringing the technology to Clarendon County, becoming the second county in the state to adopt the new process, behind Dorchester County. The new process applies only to regular renewal decals that are not late. If already expired, the receipt still has to be taken to DMV due to incurred late penalties. Evans has received many awards to honor his efforts in his field. He received the L.H. “Sonny” Siau Award of Excellence from the South Carolina Auditors, Treasurers and Tax Collectors (SCATT) organization in 2012. That award is presented to people who personify Sonny's passion for excellence in public service. Evans also served as President of SCATT and has been a member of their organization for over 33 years. He was recognized by the South Carolina Association of Finance and Data Processing Professionals for his dedication as a member of their committee. Evans served as President of Government Finance Officers Association of South Carolina in 2018.