Four candidates seeking to fill the presently vacant Chief Financial Officer for the Demopolis City School System faced an hour long interview before the Board of Education Friday.

Each candidate faced a battery 16 prepared questions.

Doug Brooker, Division Director of Fiscal Services at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital, was the final interview of the afternoon.

Brooker holds an accounting degree from the University of Alabama and has worked at the hospital for more than 20 years.

Given the status of the General Fund and coming proration, each candidate was asked how they would balance a shrinking checkbook.

“The biggest thing to me is…going back to making sure those teacher units and the things for the students are untouched, or untouched as much as possible. Any cuts would have to come from…things you can do without and not affecting the student part of it.”

Also, at the conclusion of the interview, each candidate faced the obvious question: Why they think they are the best fit for the job.

“I’m very dedicated to the accounting functions and I’m very loyal. This is one job I had always told my wife that if it ever became available, I would apply,” he said. “I do not do anything that would be below board…I can’t tell you I don’t ever make mistakes but I never do it out of neglect. I’m a loyal supporter of this town and this school system.”