County treasurer announces she will not seek re-election

St. Joseph County Treasurer Judie Ratering announced Tuesday she will not seek re-election in the August primary to a third, four-year term.

Addressing the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, Ratering on Tuesday said she plans to retire after her current term expires at the end of the year.

The 60-year-old Ratering was appointed by a statutory committee in February 2012 from a pool of eight candidates after former county treasurer Phyllis Bainbridge retired. Later that year, Ratering was elected as treasurer.

A Park Township resident and Mendon High School alumna, Ratering in 1990 started her career in the treasurer’s office, where she worked as a deputy treasurer for more than 11 years. She left for the private sector before returning to the county post in 2012.

The position currently pays about $65,000 annually.

Commissioners commended Ratering for a job well done over the past eight years as treasurer.