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About this race
The county auditor-treasurer has a variety of responsibilities, including tax administration, election administration and accounting.
The current auditor-treasurer is Mary E. Hendrickson, who is retiring.
The top two candidates in the Aug. 11 primary will advance to the November ballot.
Click the tabs below to learn more about the candidates
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Age on Election Day: 61
Community: Cormorant
Employment: HDR, Inc., Federal Professional Service Director
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
Serving in the Navy, as a Senior Executive at the Department of Energy, and as an executive in the private sector has prepared me well for the Auditor-Treasurer position. I have extensive experience in regulatory compliance, regulatory oversight, financial accountability, auditing and assessing performance and compliance, and leading teams of all sizes. During 32 years in the Navy, I was directly responsible for teams as large as 2500+ personnel and budgets greater than $100M. At the DOE, I was directly accountable to the Secretary for regulatory oversight & enforcement for a Cabinet level Department with a budget of nearly $50B and over 130,000 federal and contractor employees. In the private sector, I’m a key senior leader in an organization that serves federal clients, responsible for $400M in revenue and regulatory compliance. Finally, I have an MBA from a top Business School and am certified by the Navy in Financial Management.
Why are you running?
I have proudly spent my life and career serving the country, my community, and my fellow citizens. My career in the Navy spanned over 32 years of honorable and dedicated service. After retiring from the Navy, I continued to serve in the Department of Energy. When we decided to make a career change and move back to Minnesota to be closer to family and friends, I joined a company that directly serves federal, state, and local governments and communities.
Although I’m very proud of my service to the nation, I am refocusing that service locally, applying my experience, education, and leadership directly for our local community. It will be my honor to continue my service as the Auditor-Treasurer and leverage my life’s experience and education for the betterment of Becker County, ensuring stewardship of taxpayer dollars, safeguarding free and fair elections, and providing opportunity for residents of our communities.
Why should voters choose you to advance to the general election?
The Auditor-Treasurer has multiple vital roles and responsibilities: the Chief Financial Officer, Property Tax Administrator, Supervisor of Elections, investing county funds, and maintaining the county's investment portfolio and bank accounts.
I have extensive experience and education in government budgeting, financial management, leading teams, working collaboratively, driving accountability, facilitating open and honest stakeholder engagement, and delivering exceptional results.
Free, fair, and safe elections that are beyond reproach are paramount to our county, the state, and our country. 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.
I have devoted my life and my career to serving my country, my community, and my fellow citizens. I will continue to do so as Auditor-Treasurer, delivering exceptional results.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
The Auditor-Treasurer has multiple vital roles and responsibilities: the Chief Financial Officer, Property Tax Administrator, Supervisor of Elections, investing county funds, and maintaining the county's investment portfolio and bank accounts. The Auditor-Treasurer is also a member of the county board of equalization, the county canvassing committee, and sits on various other committees, councils, and boards.
The Auditor-Treasurer's Office is part of the administrative branch of Becker County’s government. The office routinely collaborates with county departments; residents; local, state and federal governments and agencies; and school districts.
The office’s functions include: issuing payment for county obligations, collecting revenues, preparing monthly reports and the annual financial statement, compiling and publishing the annual budget, calculating property tax rates, preparing tax statements, issuing liquor and other licenses, and other functions.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
President Ronal Reagan.
He was a very successful President and his core beliefs align with mine. They beliefs include limited government, free markets, economic growth, individual freedom, individual responsibility and accountability, strong national defense, optimism, and faith in America and our citizens.
His leadership style was collaborative, provide a clear vision for a better future, included frequent active, open, and candid communication. He delegated responsibilities, provided the resources necessary for success, and trusted the team. Finally, he was a master of developing and implementing strategy.
Rising property taxes are a concern for many Northern Minnesotans. How would you aim to minimize levy increases as auditor-treasurer?
The Auditor Treasurer does not directly set property tax policy or levies; however, they play a central role in how taxes are calculated, administered, communicated, and forecast. As Auditor-Treasurer I would work to minimize future levy increase by
1) Active and effective financial management of taxpay dollars as the county’s Chief Financial Officer
2) 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.
3) Track and report tax basis trends.
4) Ensure proper classification and the integrity of the county’s tax information.
5) Provide accurate tax forecasting to support key decisions.
What is your opinion on economic development tax abatements?
Economic development tax abatements can be an useful tool to promote local economic development; however, they must be granted and applied as required. That is, the benefits of the abatement must be equal to or greater than its costs.
How would you ensure elections remain free, fair and transparent in your county?
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.
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Still have questions for the candidates? Contact information for all those who've filed to run for office can be found at candidates.sos.state.mn.us.
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Contributed/Lorie ShaullMonths before the midterms, the Trump administration dismantled a bipartisan federal commission that serves local offices that oversee voting. -
Lorie Shaull/Special to KAXEThe library matched the anonymous matching donation for $30,000 it received in June 2026. A larger fundraising goal is aimed at increasing public hours in 2027. -
Contributed/University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering CenterDue to smoke from Boundary Waters wildfires, the MPCA issued air quality alerts for large parts of Minnesota. The alert lasts until at least Friday, July 16, 2026. -
During the Phenology Report for the week of July 14, 2026 Staff Phenologist John Latimer remarks on blooming basswoods, hawks hunting in harvested fields, and more.
