Contact Phone
2182340218
telephone
2182340218
I’ve spent five years working under the Auditor-Treasurer, with hands on experience in payroll, motor vehicle, election judging, and obtaining my property tax certification. Payroll is one of the county’s largest expenses, and that work has given me a real appreciation for the responsibility that comes with managing public funds carefully. I’ve learned so much from the Auditor-Treasurer, and I want to apply those lessons to serve the residents of Becker County. I bring a strong focus on communication and collaboration, both across departments and with the County Board, so decisions are made with everyone informed rather than in isolation. I want to bring that approach to the top of the office, for the benefit of Becker County.
My top three priorities are communication, accuracy, and proactive transparency. First, I want to strengthen communication between this office, the County Board, and other departments, since decisions land better when people are looped in early. Second, I’ll focus on property tax accuracy and fairness, since that directly affects what every resident pays. Third, I want this office reporting on county finances proactively, before problems arise.
This office touches nearly every resident, through property taxes, motor vehicle services, and elections. It’s also where county employees get paid and funds get disbursed, so its accuracy affects the whole county. The office runs well today, and my focus would be on maintaining that strong foundation while bringing my own emphasis on communication, keeping departments and the Board informed early, and proactive reporting on county finances, so residents always know where things stand.
Free, fair, and safe elections come down to consistency, transparency, and training. I’ve served as an election judge at the county level, and that same attention to detail carries over directly from my payroll work, where accuracy simply isn’t optional. I’d make sure poll workers receive thorough, consistent training every cycle, and that ballot security procedures are followed without exception. Voters trust elections more when the process stays visible and consistent.
Transparency starts with strong internal controls. Segregation of duties matters, making sure no single person has unchecked control over how money moves, since that protects both taxpayers and the employees handling those funds. I’d continue that accountability through routine checks built into the process, not just retroactive reporting, so issues get caught early rather than relying on someone noticing later. That’s how taxpayers can be confident their tax dollars are handled responsibly.
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Contact Phone
218-979-1326
My 13 years of direct experience working in the Becker County’s Auditor-Treasurers office, makes me the best candidate for this position. I have developed a comprehensive understanding of the complex, moving parts that defines the department, ranging from financial management and State reporting, election administration, licensing, and property taxes. This tenure along with my hands-on background covers all aspects of the position. In addition, I bring over 20 years of financial background. I am also currently serving my 7th term as a clerk for Riceville Township. This unique combination of local government experience, financial knowledge, and customer service, proves my commitment to public service and its responsibilities.
Succession Planning: This ensures the county maintains effective knowledge transfer through knowledge and teambuilding.
Department Collaboration: Working together to build camaraderie between teams. This ensures that when a customer faces multiple issues, we provide a results-driven response rather than pointing fingers.
Increased Efficiencies: Streamlining processes allows us to better serve the community, optimize operations, and cost savings.
The Auditor-Treasurer is a vital position to tax payers. We provide election administration, checks and balances, property tax management and personalized public service. This position statutorily ensures public funds are managed ethically and appropriately. I want to open the lines of communication with the county commissioners and administration, while continuing to do what is right for the taxpayers.
I am state-certified and am deeply passionate about the election process. I administer training for election judges in our county. I will continue to provide critical oversight in the election process. I will follow state statue, educate, and communicate with staff and clerks. To ensure safety, I will work closely with local law enforcement. My commitment remains to serve voters fairly and impartially. I will lead by example and uphold my oath to the best of my ability.
Continue with dual control in the office, by maintaining the segregating of duties. It is important to ensure the proper allocation of taxpayer dollars.
Maintain that we remain within the county budget by reviewing financial decisions across all departments often. Increasing our communication, regarding departmental spend, will help us identify and eliminate financial discrepancies early, keep us on track with our budget goals, and maintain transparency and trust with the public.
Contact Phone
2182341681
telephone
2182341681
I believe this office is strongest when it is led by someone with both the educational background and practical experience needed for a role centered on efficiency, accuracy, and fiscal responsibility. With my accounting degree from MSUM, I have the education required to lead the Auditor-Treasure's office. Additionally, I've spent most of my 28 years of experience in the office under the leadership of Keith Brekken and Ryan Tangen. In my tenure, I have watched the county move core responsibilities away that are best housed within the office for a well-run county.
Efficiency, transparency, and common sense. For example, all 87 Minnesota counties use different software to do many of the same tasks. Greater consistency could improve efficiency and reduce costs. I also want to work with other departments and agencies to remove barriers and improve service. Transparency matters too, and residents should be able to easily access tax information and county financial information online.
The Auditor-Treasurer's Office is critical to a well-run county government. It ensures taxpayer dollars are properly accounted for, expenditures are accurate and verified, tax statements are fair and ethical, and elections are conducted with integrity. With strong leadership, this office can improve efficiency, transparency, and public trust through better communication, sound financial oversight, and expanded online access to county services and information.
Free, fair, and safe elections begin with following Minnesota election laws and state guidelines. As Auditor-Treasurer, I would continue to ensure those standards are followed carefully at every step of the process. I would support strong training for election judges, accurate procedures, and clear communication with voters so Becker County residents can have confidence in the integrity and security of every election.
This is an important one to me, currently, if a taxpayer wanted to know what the county spends their money on, they would have to go to the Auditor-Treasurer's office, fill out a form, and wait. They should be able to easily see what money is being spent on. Becker County should have nothing to hide and be 100% accountable to the voter/taxpayer by making expenditures easily accessible, along with any county information that is accessible to the public.
Contact Phone
8587765059
telephone
8587765059
Serving in the Navy, as a Senior Executive at the Department of Energy, & as an executive in the private sector has prepared me well for the Auditor-Treasurer position–regulatory compliance, financial accountability, & leadership. During 32 years in the Navy, I was directly accountable for teams as large as 2500+ personnel & budgets greater than $100M. At the DOE, I was directly responsible to the Secretary for regulatory oversight & enforcement–Cabinet level Department with a budget of nearly $50B & over 130,000 federal & contractor employees. In the private sector, I’m a key senior leader in an organization responsible for $400M in revenue & regulatory compliance, serving Federal clients. Finally, I have an MBA from a top Business School.
As Auditor-Treasurer, my initial priorities will be: 1) continue to ensure the integrity and legitimacy of the election process, 2) continue the efforts and initiatives to streamline and drive efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness in the county’s financial processes and systems, and drive open and transparent communication with taxpayers, and 3) collaborate across County Departments to facilitate a cohesive government team and enable and facilitate strategic planning for the county.
The Auditor-Treasurer has multiple vital roles & responsibilities that include the Chief Financial Officer, Property Tax Administrator, Supervisor of Elections, investing surplus county funds, & maintaining the county's investment portfolio & bank accounts. If elected, I will assess each of the Department’s functions & make any necessary changes to drive efficiency & effectiveness while maintaining the integrity, legitimacy, & transparency crucial to the future of the county and its residents.
Free, fair, safe, & legitimate elections that are beyond reproach is paramount to our county, townships, the state, & our country; and form the basis of our Constitutional Republic. I will set definitive expectations early, work with staff to develop plans that ensure statutory compliance, and provide all necessary training to validate everyone involved in the election process is well prepared. Throughout, I will seek feedback from stakeholders and maintain transparency and open communications.
Transparency of the county government’s operations & how the taxpayer dollars are used and protected is fundamental to the Auditor-Treasurer’s role & responsibility. I will maintain an open-door and always be available to respond to stakeholder and constituent questions and concerns. Additionally, I will provide frequent outreach to taxpayers & communities in the form of meetings, townhalls, and briefings to ensure transparency of the county’s operations, finances, challenges, and opportunities.
I believe I am the best candidate for this position because I bring more than 25 years of managerial experience along with a proven background in successful business management. I also bring a strong work ethic and positive attitude with an open mind.
If I am fortunate enough to be elected for this position, my top three priorities will be accuracy, consistency and transparency. These priorities are essential to the success of an Auditor-Treasurer’s office.
This role is extremely important to the people we serve because it involves the management of public funds. I am committed to representing our constituents with dedication and responsibility. I will maintain focus on detail and continued learning, ensuring ongoing improvements in operations.
My approach to successful election management centers on having clear and accurate communications on every level as well as having an educated and dedicated team.
Having proper checks and balances implemented in the day to day is critical to success. When work is performed with a high level of accuracy and accountability, transparency naturally follows.
