The election of tea party activist and perennial candidate Danny Volcik as the $70,000-a-year treasurer of McLennan County has left some Republicans red-faced because Volcik has few credentials that would suggest he ought to be in the complicated job of taxpayer investments for McLennan County.

Volcik, who has run as both a Republican and Democrat through the years for everything from sheriff to county commissioner to justice of the peace, finally lucked out when he rode a Republican tidal wave into public office last week. Ironically, while his opponent raised $12,000 in his re-election campaign, Volcik raised nothing and spent only $106 on signs, complete with grammatical error. (For the curious, Volcik’s campaign signs had an exclamation point after “Taxes up” instead of a question mark. For the even more curious, Volcik’s home answering machine till just recently identified him as running for county commissioner, a post he sought in 2008.)

Volcik unseated a highly qualified and experienced county treasurer who commanded the respect of county officials from both parties. In fact, Bill Helton was recently honored by the County Treasurers Association of Texas as 2010 Outstanding Treasurer.

That didn’t spare Helton, a Democrat, the misfortune of having a down-ballot post that was simply overwhelmed by a surge of voters angry at the Democratic Party in general. The electorate’s action has ironically left some Republicans — among them fiscally wise County Judge Jim Lewis — particularly worried about the county’s delicate finances considering Volcik’s lack of credentials for the job.

We won’t go so far as to say voters were wrongheaded in allowing this to happen. Maybe voters really did want Volcik in power. However, a number of local business leaders have expressed shock about what they consider an ill-advised move at best.

Certainly, it goes without saying that one of the smartest pieces of advice any voter can embrace is not to vote straight ticket. By now, longtime voters ought to know that candidates from both parties can disappoint. Why make matters worse then by voting so indiscriminately? Has either political party really earned such trust? We think not.

All this means county officials, including the auditor’s office, may have to beef up to keep an eye on a fledgling treasurer when he takes over the job from 20-year veteran Bill Helton come January. We don’t think Volcik’s lack of experience will sink the county fiscally, but it may require expansion of staffing to provide the safeguards necessary to protect the county when it comes to matters ranging from payroll to managing a $100 million investment portfolio.

That said, let’s not rush to count Danny Volcik out. A retired state trooper who claims to be a quick study, Volcik might just rise to the occasion.