Auditor candidates discuss modernization, customer service
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months, 1 week AGO
Three candidates are running for the position of Grant County Auditor including appointed incumbent Shannon Falstad and challengers Andrew Koeppen and Darci Homesley.
FILE PHOTO
EPHRATA — Three Republicans are vying for the Grant County Auditor position: appointed incumbent Shannon Falstad and challengers Andrew Koeppen and Darci Homesley.
To help voters evaluate the candidates, each was asked the same question and given an equal opportunity to respond. Homesley did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
For this installment, candidates were asked what changes, if any, they would make to the Auditor’s Office to improve efficiency, technology, public access and customer service while maintaining accuracy, transparency and accountability.
Ballots for the Aug. 4 election must be postmarked or returned by Election Day.
Falstad: Customer service has always been a priority for me, and I welcome feedback whenever someone feels they aren’t receiving the level of service they deserve. The Auditor’s office remains committed to staying current with technology. The Recording Department uses Eagle Recorder, which is widely used with County Auditors, Licensing operates on state-provided systems, Elections has had their system, Clear Ballot, since 2019, and Accounting is implementing Tyler’s Enterprise ERP. Updated systems matter because structured workflows support accuracy.
Koeppen: As Grant County grows, residents expect government that is efficient, accessible, transparent, and accountable. The Auditor's Office must continually evaluate its operations to maintain accuracy, public trust, and excellent service.
My 10 in 100 Plan is built around three priorities:
1. Every vote counts: review election reporting procedures to improve efficiency while maintaining accuracy; expand election transparency through additional cameras, livestreaming where appropriate, and public observation; and review ballot box accessibility and security to improve voter convenience while maintaining election integrity.
2. Every penny counts: review contracts, purchasing practices, and financial controls to strengthen accountability, improve value, and increase transparency and improve public access to financial information through clear online reporting.
3. Every record counts: evaluate vehicle licensing services to improve customer service and efficiency.; modernize the Auditor's website by correcting outdated information, fixing broken links, and improving online access to services and records; and use technology to automate repetitive tasks, improve public access, identify anomalies, and allow staff to spend more time serving residents while supporting, not replacing, human judgment.
For nearly 20 years, I have improved business operations through technology, automation, and process improvement while maintaining quality and customer service. As a telecommunications test engineer, I managed testing of complex billing, hardware, and E911 emergency communication systems to ensure they operated accurately and reliably before affecting customers or public safety.
Within my first 100 days, I will publish a Public Report Card documenting actions, findings, and next steps so residents can measure my progress and hold me accountable.
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
Bartrand leads assessor race in preliminary results
EPHRATA — Preliminary election results show Grant County Assessor Candidate Anson Bartrand leading over challenger Clayton Johnson, but both candidates say the race remains far from decided as thousands of ballots remain uncounted. As of the Nov. 3 count, Bartrand received 7,152 votes to Johnson's 5,195. However, Election Coordinator Rebecca Pettingill said Wednesday afternoon that election workers still had about 7,000 ballots in the office awaiting processing and estimated that roughly 15,000 ballots remain to be counted countywide before certification. “If we're going to be anywhere near where we were in 2022, which we're still on kind of track to be, we'll probably process another 15,000 ballots before the end of the election,” Pettingill said.
MLSD highlights STOPit app as tool for reporting safety concerns
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District officials are encouraging students, parents and community members to use the district's STOPit reporting platform to share concerns about school safety, bullying and student well-being. The renewed focus on the reporting system follows a recent community safety town hall, where district leaders discovered many attendees were unfamiliar with the tool, according to Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon. “We wanted people to know this system is available to our community and to the parents for a multitude of different issues,” Shannon said.
Downtown clock intersection combines 4-way stop, roundabout rules, police say
MOSES LAKE — Drivers traveling through downtown Moses Lake's clock intersection should first treat it as a four-way stop and then navigate around the clock as they would a roundabout, according to Moses Lake Police Department Capt. Adam Monroe. The intersection, centered around the city's iconic clock, has long generated questions from motorists. While many drivers travel to the right around the clock before reaching their destination, others attempt to make direct left turns through the intersection. Monroe said that is not the correct way to navigate the area. “You have to go around the clock tower to get to your destination,” Monroe said. “You can't just cut through traffic.”