JOHNSTOWN - When the polls close in Tuesday's Republican primary, voters may have decided on a new county treasurer.

Both candidates in the race, James Callery of Johnstown and Terry Blodgett of Perth, filed petitions to run on the Republican line. Callery also filed as a Conservative. Since Blodgett only filed as a Republican, however, there will be no contested race in the general election if Callery wins the primary.

Both candidates made experience a focal point of their campaigns. However, their experience comes from two different areas.

Callery, Johnstown's 4th Ward supervisor, has been on the county Board of Supervisors for 12 years and spent six of those years as the chairman of the Finance Committee. He was on the Finance Committee for all 12 years.

Callery, 53, has lived in Johnstown all of his life and held several jobs. He started out as a salesman for Coca-Cola before it moved out of Gloversville. He also is working his second stint at Tryon. He owned Cal's Beverage and Partner's Pub, business experience he said would help him in the treasurer's position for the county. Callery said he managed the finances for Partner's while he served as a co-owner before selling the business three years ago.

Blodgett, meanwhile, has a financial background. He spent 32 years working for HSBC/Beneficial until a company downsizing led to his retirement in 2008. He was the assistant vice president of consumer lending operations and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of a $40 million consumer lending office and worked with 45 professional and administrative staff.

Blodgett said he was responsible for managing more than $350 million in assets.

Like Callery, Blodgett is a lifelong Fulton County resident. He graduated from Mayfield High School.

Both candidates talked of ways to save the county money and both said the high number of foreclosures is a serious problem in the area.

Callery said there is a backlog of foreclosures in the treasurer's office, and he said they have gone up to "scary proportions" and addressed the need to find creative ways to prevent foreclosure.

"The last thing you want to do is take someone's home," he said.

Callery also spoke about cutting expenses for the county by making the computer systems more efficient, which, down the road, he said could require less staff.

Blodgett said a cheaper way to handle foreclosures is to accept a "deed in lieu of foreclosure," which he said would save the county money. He said this was a practice they did in the banking industry, and many people in danger of losing their homes are open to it because it is better for their credit.

Both Blodgett and Callery said they would work closely with county supervisors to keep taxes down.

Callery said in the 12 years he's been on the Board of Supervisors, property taxes in Fulton County have gone down to less than $10 per $1,000 of assessed value from about $15 per $1,000.

"My number one boss is the taxpayer," Callery said.

Blodgett said he can bring many private-sector ideas to the role of treasurer and stressed teamwork when dealing with the 13 staff members in the treasurer's office and working with county supervisors.

He said the top priority of the treasurer, which he described as the county's chief financial officer, is "to make sure the county's money is protected."

"I'm not at retirement age yet," Blodgett, 53, said. "I still have a lot to offer."

The position pays $68,000 annually, and the term is for four years.