Going into Tuesday, Mower County residents will need to narrow down their choices before voting in the general election on Nov. 6.

There are two offices that will need voters to decide who to send from primaries on Aug. 14. The Mower County Auditor/Treasurer position will be up for vote, as well as the Mower County Commissioner of District 3.

County Auditor/Treasurer

The Mower County Auditor’s Office has three candidates that are running in Tuesday’s primaries. An auditor keeps financial records and prepares the yearly financial statement for the county as well as calculate the tax capacity rates for all taxing jurisdictions in the county, and compute the tax on each parcel of land. They send the Truth-in-Taxation and annual tax statements to taxpayers. Auditors also collect delinquent taxes and distribute collections to the proper taxing district, according to the Association of Minnesota Counties.

Steve Reinartz  (incumbent)

Biography

I live by rural Adams. I have been a farmer and still do some farming for the last 35 plus years. I’ve been involved in numerous things in our communities, church, and other things. Other than that, I’m married and I have three kids. Two of them are in college, and one’s still in junior high. I’ve lived in Adams my entire life and I’ve been elected into this position for the last four years.

Experience

I previously had no experience, and basically filed for this position four years ago. It’s been pretty much a learning process and I’m still learning. You always have something to new to learn every day about the election vitals in our office, birth and marriage, death certificates, etc. …there’s a wide range of responsibilities in our office.

Issues/platform

Laurie and I were both new to tax calculations and getting tax statements out. It’s been a year of experience. We had some issues in software on our tax stuff and we’re hoping to correct some of those problems, streamline tax collections, and simplified it where there’s a lot less chance of errors.

Why vote for me?

I’d like to serve another four years. I stepped into something I had no prior experience with, and it’s been a learning process for three and a half years. We have excellent staff here. I’m still learning. I would like to continue to serve another four years and continue in the progress we’ve made in three years.

Donna Welsh

Biography

I grew up in the St Ansgar/Stacyville area. Growing up our shopping trips were always to Austin. After school, I worked in Rochester at Mayo Clinic, married and had 2 children. After completing an Accounting degree, my work was in banking, primarily investing funds for trusts and estates with a portfolio of $250,000,000. Due to organizational banking changes, my work was transferred to the Twin Cities. Dodge County had an opening for a Finance Officer that I fulfilled auditor-treasurer functions from 1995 to 2003. In 2003, Mower County had an opening for a finance director. The duties included managing the accounting functions, investments, preparing financial statements,and calculating and distributing property taxes from Year 2003 to 2017.

Experience

Experience in both Dodge County and Mower County has given me knowledge of property tax system, payroll system & general ledger system conversions, which means you have to know the outcome and impact of every transaction. All of this translates to the annual financial statements, which, if not correct, has to be corrected. In the year 2017, I managed these functions with an historic low staff support hours.

Issues/platform

Reasons for running include the need for an organized, efficient financial process and the ability to effect changes on day one. This past month, I have spent much of my time on the county financials, preparing, reviewing everyone’s work and implementing changes. There is room for greater efficiencies without adding staff. (Mower County Senior Accountant) Cindy Jensen just helped all departments change the receipt function from the Auditor-Treasurer office to the departments. This saved the auditor-treasurer office approximately 400 transactions in one month. Finance implemented a state payment download, which means that the many state payments that the county receives now are downloaded to us with an attached account line, saving many hours for both departments and auditor-treasurer. My focus would be on continuing the types of changes that implement greater internal controls and better efficiencies.

Why vote for me?

Local elections are usually decided by name recognition. I would appreciate votes for my work ethic, loyalty and honesty, high integrity, willingness to solve problems, and reaching out to help local government officials, both township and cities. We are all in this together and I appreciate this opportunity. Thank you to all.

Scott Felten

Biography

I grew up in the Rose Creek area and graduated from Southland High School.  I graduated from Austin Community College (now Riverland), and Winona State University.  I am a current 45 year resident of Mower County.  I am married to Erin and have two awesome children.  I am a CPA (certified public accountant) and I worked for 27 years in the Austin office of a large, national public accounting firm.

Experience

I am a CPA and have 27 years of tax and accounting experience.  I have worked in a professional office with many co-workers.  I have worked together with and communicated with co-workers and clients on a daily basis through face to face meetings, telephone conversations, and written and email correspondence.  The tax and accounting work I did required a high level of technical skills, attention to detail, meeting deadlines, and good customer relations skills. I have experience working with other businesses, organizations, and the public through my involvement with the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce which includes over 20 years of serving on the Agri-Business Committee and previously serving on the Chamber Board of Directors, as well as my nine years of previously serving on the Mower County Agricultural Society Board of Directors (Fair Board), including several years as treasurer, and over 15 years of serving on the Mower County 4-H Market Livestock Ribbon Auction Committee.

Issues/Platform

I believe I have the necessary education and work experience, especially in accounting, and therefore would be well qualified for the auditor/treasurer position.  I would approach the position in a professional manner and I feel I would do a very good job for the residents of Mower County.  If elected, the office of auditor/treasurer would be my full-time job and I would provide excellent value to the taxpayers of Mower County. Working with the staff in the auditor/treasurer office, my goals would be to make sure the office operates efficiently and professionally, carries out its responsibilities and duties accurately and timely, and works well with other county departments, personnel, and the public.

Why Vote for Me?

I believe my education and work experience, along with my community and county involvement and knowledge, provide me with the skill set that fits well with the duties of the auditor/treasurer and I would be an asset for the taxpayers of Mower County.

Commissioner-District 3

The county commissioner serves on the Mower County Board and has a four-year term. District 3 covers Austin, Lyle, Nevada and Windom townships as well as the cities of Lyle, Rose Creek and the 2nd Ward, 2nd Precinct of the City of Austin. Five people serve as commissioners, and serve a staggered four-year term and work to provide services to their communities and taxpayers while overseeing cost of services, according to the Mower County website.

There are three candidates running in Tuesday’s primaries:

Jerry Reinartz  (incumbent)

Biography

I’m just finishing my second term as Mower County commissioner. It’s been a very educational experience and I’m hoping to get another term. I’m a lifelong resident of Mower County. I grew up in Lyle, graduated from Lyle High School and graduated from Austin Community College. I’ve been a certified real estate appraiser for 35 years. It’s been a real honor to serve Mower County, and we have a good county board. We’ve got good chemistry. We don’t always agree on things, but we have no grudges. We don’t play those kinds of games. Our main interest is to serve the people in our district and make it the most efficient county government. We’re in it for the people we’re serving. It’s been a very educational last two terms and I learned a lot. Bottom line is that it’s been an enlightening experience and I’m hoping to get another term.

Experience

Like I mentioned earlier, I’m just finishing my second term as Mower Commissioner. I’ve also ran my own business in Austin for 35 years.

Issues/Platforms

The biggest concern has always been about roads and bridges. The county has a network of more than 400 miles of county roads that they have to maintain. We’ve been struggling to keep the roads up, and keeping taxpayers safe. The  main concern is to keep them safe and give them good infrastructure. The state of Minnesota is supposed to help us out on that. We get less money and we’re struggling to keep our roads and bridges in good condition. We implemented the half-percent sales tax, which the state gave us permission to do, and it really has helped us catch up on our bridges. We’re putting in three years worth of road updating this year, which is cheaper than waiting two more years. If legislature comes through and start funding repairs, we’ll rescind the half-cent sales tax. We want to keep people safe.

Another big issue is replacing our county coordinator. It takes an executive search, and it’s a key position. We need to get the right person in that job.

Why vote for me?

That’s the voter’s discretion, but in my opinion, I’ve been very cognizant of other people in my district in my county. I’ve been trying to react to their concerns as quickly as possible. My reason being on the board is to serve. With my experience of two terms, I’ve become much more familiar with county government and legislative. We do our best to do what’s best for the county. I’m looking forward to the primary and hoping to get re-elected. I’ve enjoyed serving the people in my county and it’s been a gratifying experience. I’m looking forward to four more years.

Duane Felt

Felt has told the Austin Daily Herald on Thursday afternoon that he was no longer actively campaigning for the position, and has suspended efforts to run. However, he stated that it was “too late to withdraw” and his name would still appear on Tuesday’s ballot.

Penra Grimley

Biography

I’ve completed 20 years with Mower County Health and Human Services as a child support officer. I’m retiring this fall on Aug. 3. I’ve always kind of been interested in local government and trying to become a part of it. I have a little different perspective as an employee, and I’m hoping it’s a good perspective.

Experience

relevant to office

Probably from interest alone. I know after 20 years, I know what occurs at the county, who does what as far as a normal taxpayer. From 1975 to 1983 I’ve worked for the City of Austin in the finance department, so I’m not unfamiliar with budget and spending. I don’t know all the answers, but I sure know who to ask.

Issues/platforms

I think I have a lot of new ideas, board’s been around for a while,. No animosity toward them. Time for change, really really like to get younger people involved. I’ve had parades tell me, I’d like to run for commissioner but I work during the day, perception business during the day, makes them think they can’t run for office. I want people to have access to them. It’s hard to express your opinion if you can’t be at the meeting.

Why Vote For Me?

I’m excited. The bottom line is that regardless of how the elections go,  I’m going to be at those meetings. This is my home, I plan to retire here and this is my happy place. I want to preserve it. Don’t do a lot of traveling. this is where I plan on living, and I want to make sure it stays the community it is now, and if not better.

Loren Bellrichard

Biography

I’m a native of Mower County. I went to Pacelli High School, went into domestic Peace Corps. I attended the University of Minnesota and was drafted into the military. I’m native to the area.

Experience

relevant to office

I ran for mayor in Winona, school board, and for Mower County commissioner in 2006 … I ran for Austin city council member-at-large in 2004.

Issues/Platforms

I don’t like tax-increment funding. I don’t like that. I feel that the tax abatement program is being misused right now.I don’t think it’s a good idea to give tax breaks to new, younger people to build when there are older people who lived here are over-taxed. I don’t like the interpretation that supposedly newer people can take out a tax break on a $300,000 house. I’m not for a lot of growth. I don’t want Austin to become like Rochester or Minneapolis. I just think it’s a crooked deal and we’re jacking up our tax base. I just want to take care of the people here and make sure they’re fed, clothed and sheltered. My concerns also include farmers, especially with the low prices on their soybeans and corn. These tariffs are putting more stress on farmers, and if we don’t remedy that, then they’re going further into debt.

Why Vote For Me?

I don’t run to win necessarily. I’ve been running really to get other people involved. I believe in a participatory government and getting other people to run and so that people can pick your best choice.