When someone has gained 16 years of experience in political office, voters should look long and hard for valid reasons if they wish to replace that person.

We find no such reason in the case of Garfield County Treasurer and Public Trustee Georgia Chamberlain, the Democratic candidate. Her extensive experience, along with her aptitude and demeanor, make her a clear choice for re-election Nov. 5.

Chamberlain has seen her office through a period of tremendous growth in the county, yet been able to maintain her staffing at the same level. She has worked to take advantage of computerization in order to increase office efficiency.

Chamberlain considers much of her job to be about office management, and she has shown herself capable. She takes the treasurer’s profession seriously, assuming a leadership role among county treasurers statewide and helping to start a treasurer certification program. While serving as president of the Colorado County Treasurers Association, she helped write the implementation statutes for the homestead exemption applying to senior property owners.

Chamberlain’s opponent, Republican Cheryl Chandler, is a credible contender, a current county Planning Commission member whose real estate background could prove helpful as the county tries to gauge market trends and potential impacts on property tax revenues. But she falls short of Chamberlain on experience.

We also worry about her plan to continue to do some real estate work if elected. To us, it’s not so much a conflict of interest, but a conflict of time. Chamberlain’s job is a full-time post that pays $60,000. At that salary the job deserves the full attention of its occupant.

Chandler has raised concerns about Chamberlain’s performance, based on prior county audits. We reviewed the audits. None of the findings appear to be grievous, and Chamberlain appears to have addressed them quickly.

Chamberlain deserves to be re-elected to the office where she has served so capably for so long.