Kiepke says she’s learned much, wants to continue

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Incumbent Davison County Auditor Susan Kiepke feels like she’s just hitting her stride. The Republican candidate hopes voters will let her continue the job she won in 2006.

“I’ve enjoyed the challenge of being auditor,” she said. “It’s fulfilling and constantly changing. I feel that I’m learning new things all the time.”

Kiepke will face independent candidate Val Anderson at the polls Tuesday.

Prior to taking over as auditor, Kiepke spent 8½ years as a deputy auditor with the county. That background, she now realizes, was essential preparation. The office consists of the auditor and three full-time deputies. Kiepke, 49, said her person- al job description is nine pages long and those of her deputies are 2½ pages in length.

That gives some indication of how many tasks are performed in the office, she said.

“And I’m still learning. Things are continually changing in legislation and employee policy and other areas. I feel I’ve gained skills to keep abreast of those things.”

“I can’t imagine taking over the office without my earlier experience,” she said. Kiepke said she had done most of the bookkeeping tasks in her department prior to being elected, but until she was, she didn’t realize just how diverse the office is.

“What I didn’t realize at the time was the huge amount of research work that’s required for the job,” she said. “The auditor’s office is the hub of the county. The auditor spends the majority of her time researching issues for the county commissioners and staying abreast of new and pending legislation.”

The county is using its money well, Kiepke believes.

“I think the county is in pretty good shape financially,” she said. “The commissioners were reserved in their administration of the budget — not as conservative as I proposed — but still pretty conservative.”

Kiepke realizes that her job duties are statutorily defined, but there are some changes she would like to see.

“One thing I would like to see changed is more cooperation between the county and the city. That’s something I have no authority over,” she said, “but I believe it’s important that they cooperate and communicate with each other.”

Since her term began in March 2007, Kiepke said she has run two fire-district elections, one primary election and one general election She is now working on her second general election.

She said she also had an opportunity to run a special election to re-establish Mitchell Township. “That was very exciting because it broke new ground and was the only one held in the state,” she said.

Kiepke and her husband, Paul, have two children: Katie, 17, and Billy, 20. She also has two stepchildren who are married with families of their own.

She is a member of Rotary, PEO, Pheasant Country and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, where she is a lay reader and a member of the Altar Guild. She said she also has been a volunteer for Special Olympics and has been chairwoman of the American Cancer Society golf tournament for several years. She has also volunteered for LifeQuest and for the Abbott House Festival of Lights.

Kiepke believes she has become a strong part of the administrative team at the courthouse.

“I’ve been told I’m doing a good job and people like me because I’m not afraid to give my opinion,” she said. “I’d like to continue what I’m doing.”

Tags: election 2010, susan kiepke, val anderson, news, local, politics