I was recently asked to fill out a questionnaire.  Here are my responses to some important questions.

Environmental Priorities

1. Are there ways in which you have or will work to make the Auditor (or Auditor/Recorder) Office

environmentally-sustainable? If so, please identify those here.

I am currently in charge of the finance side of the Auditor’s Office and there are several actions I have

taken to make our office more environmentally sustainable.

● Payroll - I have been the leader in implementing a more environmentally friendly office. When I started 8

years ago, payroll involved a lot of printed paper and travel (fuel and time) from departments. Payroll

processing documents were dropped off in person and all pay stubs were printed before the departments

were required to pick them up in person and distribute them to their staff. I implemented emailing the stubs

to employees and today we receive all payroll processing documents electronically and disseminate stubs

via email to all but a few employees.

● Accounts Payable - In the past, our department brought in copies of all invoices and claims entries on a

weekly basis for our review. I have implemented the system that now is used to scan invoices and

electronically submit the claims to the Auditor’s office instead of wasting time and fuel to come to the

auditor’s office to drop off the paper in person.

● My future goals include to use our scanning software more fully to save documents and try to further

minimize the use of printing papers. I also have been working with the townships to train them on how to

use electronic forms to complete their annual financial reports.

Healthy Democracy/Healthy Environment

1. The Sierra Club believes that the healthier the democracy, the healthier the environment. Do you

support increasing voter access by:

My responses do not override the fact that I will follow the law to the letter, but they reflect what I will

support regarding legislative action. I feel that some of these questions require more than a yes or no

response so I have provided a response to a few instead of a simple yes or no response.

a. Extending the time period for absentee balloting? ____ Y _X__ N

Every time we have legislative changes, it causes confusion to the public. This was seen

with the changes in the absentee ballot period from 29 days to 20 days. Changes like this

add to the confusion and frustrations of the citizens of Woodbury County. Instead of making

a change again that will lend the confusion, I support more avenues – social media, media,

public events, etc. - to share information of the time frames that are written in the law. I

have heard concerns about mail time cutting into the allotted 20 days and time restraints

for ballot preparation in the auditor’s office, but if the right message is relayed, the voters

will be able to make the proper accommodations to cast their votes on time. Consistency

is needed so people know from one election to the next not only when to vote, but where to

vote and how to make sure their ballot is counted. This all has to do with transparency and

repetition of getting the message out so everyone can have an equal opportunity to vote.

b. Counting ballots that are postmarked and/or barcoded before election day but received

after the election __X__ Y ____ N

c. Increasing satellite voting stations ____ Y ____ N

I agree with the current law that satellite voting should be petitioned by the public as to

their needs.

d. Extending the length of time polls are open on election day ____ Y __X__ N

In 2022, only 5 states have polls open more than 13 hours on election day, so I believe that

Iowa’s poll hours of 7a-8p should be maintained and is a fair timeframe.

e. Restoring full voting rights to those convicted of felonies and working to increase efforts to

ensure felons understand how to restore voting rights __X__ Y ____ N

I support ensuring that felons understand how to restore their voting rights, and agree with

the secretary of state’s summary of the law: a convicted felon should have the right to vote

“if they have completed all terms of confinement, parole, probation, or other supervised release for all

felony convictions, including the completion of any special sentence imposed pursuant to Iowa Code

chapter 903B (SEX OFFENDER SPECIAL SENTENCING). The only exception is for individuals who

have been convicted of a crime found in Iowa Code Chapter 707 (HOMICIDE AND RELATED

CRIMES)”

f. Utilizing ballot boxes to support voting rights of night shift workers and others who have

trouble getting to polls on election day ____ Y _X___ N

This statement indicates “on election day.” I have been a night shift worker in the past and

have spoken to others that work nights, including 12-hour shifts. The night shift workers I

have encountered do not have issues with taking time from their day to vote in person and

have the same opportunity to vote absentee or absentee in person as everyone else.

Ballot boxes were placed due to the COVID pandemic to give options to the public for a

safe way to return their ballots. I am not in support of keeping the boxes because 1) It is

the auditor’s discretion to have a ballot box, so this can lead to unequal opportunities from

county to county. 2) Even though the ballot boxes are on camera, there is a potential for

criminal mischief that could possibly destroy ballots if someone were to place something in

the box to destroy the contents, ex twice in the last few years we have had fires set near

the courthouse – once in a dumpster and once in the alleyway.

2. For any of the above examples of increasing voting access, are there concrete actions you have taken

and/or are willing to pledge to take to encourage these efforts?

a. ... extending the time period for absentee balloting?

One of the first things I would do is to task the elections staff to start a Woodbury County

Elections Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter account to share information about elections,

the absentee process, and timelines to help the public navigate through the process.

Anytime there is a legislative change, I would contact the press and make sure the

information is shared often so everyone is aware of it and depending on the scope of the

change, I will send out letters of notification.

b. ... counting ballots that are postmarked and/or barcoded before election day but received

after the election?

I will work with other auditors around the state and advocate for ballots that are

postmarked before the election but received after the elections are counted.

c. ... increasing satellite voting stations?

n/a based on the response above - this is up to the public.

d. ... extending the length of time polls are open on election day?

n/a based on response above

e. ... restoring full voting rights to those convicted of felonies and working to increase efforts

to ensure felons understand how to restore voting rights?

This comes down to the staff and precinct elections officials being trained properly so they

know where to refer individuals with questions. I will always make sure the staff is trained

and aware.

f. ... utilizing ballot boxes to support voting rights of night shift workers and others who have

trouble getting to polls on election day?

I will make sure that it is transparent how individuals can get their ballots in on time –

through social media, press releases, radio ads, mailings, and public events. This will

include ensuring that disabled and elderly know about curbside voting and absentee

periods, so they do not need to depend on a ballot box, All avenues of communication are

essential to making sure the public understands how to make sure their vote counts.

3. Ensuring elections including voter referendums, are conducted in secure and safe ways that encourage

all voters are able to be heard is a critical was to ensure a civil society. Do you have thoughts that

encourage the sanctity of conducting elections in ways that encourage citizen confidence in the

system?

Trust must be earned and at the County level, the public needs to trust the person in charge of

administering the elections – the County Auditor. I have earned the trust and respect from individuals from

all the cities of Woodbury County, other elected officials, law enforcement at the local, state, and federal

levels, as well as many other individuals from the community. Trust will lead to confidence that the laws are

being followed and everything is being done to carry out an election that has reliable results. One thing I

already have been an integral part of is suggesting that the preliminary votes use a double-blind entry

process when votes are entered. Prior to this, only one person entered the votes and I saw 2 errors in a

short time. Mistrust in elections would have really increased if the official results of the winners were

different than the preliminary. I suggested this change to process on my own accord, I did not work in

elections, but saw a place that could make the results of Woodbury County more reliable, so I made the

suggestion to make our preliminary results more reliable.

4. Beyond any restrictions mandated in Iowa Law, do you have any personal policies you follow to

encourage voter confidence in your ability to conduct fair elections and withstand undue donor

influence?

I pride myself on being honest and ethical in all that I do and will not yield to “donor influence”. If I am

offered a donation, the donation should be given with the trust in me to do the right thing and make the

decisions that are right for the voters of Woodbury County. Those that know me know that I am very

analytical and research oriented. I look at the pros and cons of any problem to determine what the best

solution might be. I ask, I listen, I research, and I brainstorm with others to get a comprehensive viewpoint

to make an informed decision.

My experience includes working with law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels and I have

worked in leadership positions in 3 departments of Woodbury County. Time after time, I have had to prove

myself and earn the trust of others and I do so with success. When I became deputy auditor, some

questioned my place in the office, I earned their trust, and they soon had 100% confidence in me and my

abilities to get the job done accurately and efficiently. I pledge to continue to earn the confidence of the

voters of Woodbury County through my character, my actions, and my dedicated service.

5. Are there any campaign contributions you would not accept? Hypothetically, are there amounts beyond

which and/or individuals from whom you would personally not accept contributions?

I would not accept contributions that I am aware are from illegal, unethical, or immoral means. I will not take

any donation with strings attached.

6. Have you/will you work with other community organizations to encourage voting/safe, secure election

processes, full campaign disclosure, and community discussions/forums on the Auditor

(Auditor/Recorder) role as well as those of other elected officials?

This is of extreme importance! As I have mentioned above, social media, media, and public information

messages are crucial in getting the message out. Working with community organizations goes hand in

hand in making everyone aware of how to get out and vote. In my campaign, I have already been to every

city council meeting except for 2 of them to introduce myself and have been received with a very positive

response. I have pledged to the cities that, if elected, I will stop by their communities to share voting

information and other related auditor responsibilities – and these visits will be time sensitive to the current

events. I do pledge to be transparent and to encourage safe and secure elections for our citizens and for

the precinct elections officials that work the elections. I have 28 years of experience working with law

enforcement and will continue to utilize this relationship to promote the safety and security of the election

process and I will listen to every concern.