Steven Reinartz is ready to learn the ropes as he prepares to take office next week as the county’s new auditor-treasurer.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s going to be a new experience for me.”

Reinartz defeated incumbent Doug Groh in last November’s election and takes office Monday. Reinartz had been a dairy farmer for many years but recently sold his dairy cows. He still farms and raises beef cattle.

His new job will take training and learning, but Reinartz will be able to rely on the knowledge of the staff in the auditor-treasurer’s office, according to Coordinator Craig Oscarson.

“A lot of it’s on the job training,” Oscarson said.

Unlike the sheriff or attorney seats, the auditor-treasurer and recorder jobs don’t require candidates to have certain training.

Unless a candidate served in a non-elected county role, that means on-the-job training is vital as the chief way to learn the job. Oscarson was confident Reinartz will be able to learn many parts of his new position quickly, while other parts may take a few years.

“We’re losing someone who’s all trained in and bringing in someone who doesn’t have the background or experience,” Oscarson said. “As long as he takes the effort and dedicates time to learn, it’s not like going to school to be an attorney.”

Along with the help of his staff, Reinartz is scheduled to attend a Minnesota Association of County Officers (MACO) convention in February, where he’ll be able to learn a lot about his new job.

Oscarson also noted auditors and treasurers in other counties have been willing to assist new elected officials in the past.

However, there are few schooling options outside state conventions on elections.

“Unless you’ve gone through that secretary of state training, you don’t get that going to Winona State University,” Oscarson said.

Reinartz said he’s already talked with a neighboring auditor-treasurer, and the two discussed meeting along with other peers to discuss the job.

Even though Groh worked for the county for about 13 years before taking elected office, Oscarson noted he also had to learn on the job after the auditor and treasurer roles were combined. Groh had to learn about elections, and Oscarson commended him for becoming knowledgeable about them.

Though this was his first bid for elected office, Reinartz has been involved with Sacred Heart Church, the 4-H advisory board, the Adams Booster Club and other organizations.

Reinartz and his wife, Darcey, have three children. Reinartz is not directly related to Commissioner Jerry Reinartz, who is unopposed in his bid for a second term.