00:00:04,630	Welcome to this debate with the candidates for the Burleigh County Auditor. I’m Sargianna Wutzke, a member of the League of Women Voters, and I will be your moderator. This debate has been organised, and the questions developed by the League of Women Voters, AARP of North Dakota, the Bismarck Mandan Chamber, EDC, The Bismarck Tribune, and Dakota

00:00:24,430	Media Access. There are two candidates running for the open position of Burleigh County Auditor, and both of the candidates have joined us here today. There are Thomas Larson and Marla McMonagle. Our purpose is to provide voters with information about the candidates and their positions on the issues that affect the citizens of Burleigh County.

00:00:43,630	The candidates have not received the questions in advance. Viewers watching this debate live on September 16th may submit questions by texting LWVBisMan152 TO 22333 to join the session, then text your question. This debate format is as follows.

00:01:13,000	Each candidate will have 60s to make an opening statement, and after opening statements, the candidates will respond to questions. The first responses to questions will be rotated between the candidates, and each candidate will have 60s to respond to each question. After each candidate has responded to the question, there will be up to three minutes allowed for debate or additional comments from any or all candidates.

00:01:32,430	After the final question, each candidate will then have 60s to make a closing statement. Candidates are asked to comply with our time restrictions so we can get to as many questions as possible. Our timer will let you know when your responses are down to 30s.

00:01:49,400	Then 10s, and then stop for the three minute debate segment. They will indicate when we are down to one minute and then stop. Now let’s get to our candidates. Each of you now have 60s to make an opening statement, and I’ll start with Thomas. My name is Thomas Larson. I’m running for Burleigh County auditor. Um, I just just to introduce myself a little bit.

00:02:07,270	I am married to my beautiful wife, Dana. We have two daughters, 18 microphone. Could you. There we go. Uh, 18 and 23. Um, I moved out to North Dakota in 95 to attend college at NDSU, where I got my accounting degree.

00:02:26,730	Um, I’ve been in restaurants for many years, so for about 25 years I managed different restaurants and opened them. Moving out to Bismarck in 2006. Um, I, uh, in 2023 or 24, I started with the Burleigh County Auditor treasurer’s office, um, eventually moving to the role of elections coordinator, which is where I’m at right now. All right. Marla. Okay. My name is Marla McMonagle.

00:02:54,430	I am a lifetime resident of North Dakota. I’ve lived here most of my life, except for five years when I left, and I have two children and three grandchildren. Um, I worked for Burleigh County. I started in 2014 until I retired a month ago.

00:03:20,030	I was in the building planning and zoning department where I worked with building and planning, zoning, worked with the Planning Commissioner. Um, let’s see, I graduated from University of Mary with a degree, my bachelor’s degree. I was an older than average student, and I believe that we should still keep growing. So. All right. Thank you. And now we’ll move to the questions. Thomas, I’ll start with you.

00:03:44,630	The first question is, what specific steps would you take to ensure Burleigh County’s finances are transparent, accurately reported and protected from errors or misuse? Um, with that question, you have to look at the role of the auditor’s office as it currently stands.

00:04:06,530	Um, over the last few years, the auditor’s office has transitioned from a lot of the financial responsibility that was on the auditor treasurer’s office to, um, the finance and treasurer department, and then the auditor being separate. Um, most of the finances all go through finance and the treasurer’s office.

00:04:26,430	However, I’ve been lucky enough to have started when it was a combined office, so I still, in collaboration work with the finance department and the treasurer, uh, work on budgets, tax compilations, um, or compilations. Excuse me. Um, but we continue to collaborate on that. As for the responsibility to report accurate numbers and financial statements, that does fall on the financial department.

00:04:48,170	But as the auditor, I will continue to do my best to work with them and make sure it’s accessible to everybody. All right, Marla. Well, I have worked with Burleigh County. I’ve been in Burleigh County employee in 2014.

00:05:13,770	So I have watched three different auditors come in, and I have watched the role of the auditor transition because it used to be auditor treasurer, and now they have taken the financial part. And I think that as the auditor, it’s my responsibility to make sure that the budget is posted when it’s done to rely on our financial expertise that we have with our finance director.

00:05:35,270	And just to make sure that all the postings are done so that people know when the budget is coming up and what our budget is going to be. All right. Thank you. And I’ll open this topic to any debate or any additional comments either of you may have.. No. All right. Then we’ll move to the next question. And this will be Marla’s question.

00:05:52,770	First, as the county’s chief election officer, what would you do to ensure Burleigh county elections are secure, accurate, accessible and administered in a politically neutral manner? Well, since Burleigh County does have an election supervisor, kind of with Thomas, I would rely on him to make sure. But I will also oversee it.

00:06:21,630	As far as the reporting from what the state requires and make sure that we are following everything that we are supposed to be doing. As far as reporting, making sure that our ballots are secure. All right. Thomas.

00:06:47,230	So in terms of ensuring, uh, the election integrity, um, a lot of it comes down to the training of the poll workers and the staff within the office. Um, we do extensive training with them, but it you know, it is twice every two years for a lot of these people to go through these trainings. So we do have to be thorough in that.

00:07:05,930	Um, when it comes down to, uh, the actual execution of the election that goes through the Secretary of State’s office, we administer the elections on their behalf. And along with partnering up with the municipalities within the city, um, besides doing our due diligence and following those rules and the statutes set forward in century code training is the biggest thing.

00:07:25,730	We have to make sure that everybody understands all the steps for the poll workers from the moment you’re checked in all the way till when that ballot is cast. All right. I’ll open up this topic to any other additional comments or debate that you have. Oh. All right. Um, the next question will start with Thomas.

00:07:42,770	How would you respond if a candidate or a political organization demanded that your office changed an election procedure through civil lawsuit or other means because they believed the existing procedure was unfair? Um, this is going to be a short answer on that one. Any changes to anything election related has to come through. The Secretary of State’s office.

00:08:01,970	Um, if, as the chief election official for the state, if the Secretary of State’s office does change a procedure or a policy or the way something is done and it comes from them, then we are required to do that. So no actions can be taken. If somebody pursues us, it all has to start with the state.

00:08:23,270	All right. Marla. Well, I would listen to what their concerns are first. But like Thomas has said, it’s all run through. The secretary of State’s office. And they would be the ones to decide on that. It’s not up to the county to make those decisions. We work at the behest of the state.

00:08:46,730	All right. Do either of you have any other comments on this? All right. The next question, I’ll start with Marla. How would you approach investing county funds and what safeguards would you put in place to balance investment returns, liquidity, safety and transparency? Well, since the county auditor position audits, I would, um,

00:09:13,970	make sure that we have trustworthy people, um, in that position. And with the way the situation is now, with the way the county is set up, um, the auditor is not the treasurer anymore of the state.

00:09:43,530	It is done through our financial office and our finance people are the best people that they can hire. They have their CPAs. They know what they’re doing. And I know enough to be able to look to see if things balance. So I would just make sure on that. Everything is balanced as far as the financial statements.

00:10:03,770	And if people were to ask, I’d make sure that they’re available because we don’t work in the shadows in the county. All right. Thank you. Thomas. Um, in terms of bonding, uh, Marla is right. Uh, it is the responsibility of the finance department and the treasurer to research bonding. Uh, rates and investigating those.

00:10:24,500	Um, there are times where the county auditor will be required to work with those departments to secure bonding. Uh, special assessment projects, anything like that. Um, but ultimate responsibility comes to the finance department on that. Any additional comments from either of you? All right. The next question starts with Thomas.

00:10:54,900	What is your opinion on Mail-In or absentee ballots? Let’s start with, uh, the security of Mail-In and absentee ballots. The process that we have within our office to ensure that only qualified voters are getting ballots is very secure. It’s tied in with the Department of Transportation driver’s licenses. Um, so I am very confident in the measures that we take to ensure that only the correct people get ballots.

00:11:16,230	With that being said, the process as to verifying ballots, um, from when we receive the ballots back, when we send out the applications, and then also when the ballots are tabulated, there are security steps along the way. Again, they are set up via the Secretary of State’s office and and their instruction to us.

00:11:35,770	But I, I, I think they serve a purpose. I do think that, uh, they serve a purpose. All right. Marla. I think Mail-In ballots are great.

00:12:05,400	Um, I use absentee ballots myself because I like to have the actual ballot in my hand so I can look at it and spend my time before I make my decision. It’s really for me. It’s really hard to make a decision in the booth, so I like to be able to think about my things. So I. I like Mail-In ballots and I have watched for 12 years the Election department, how they handle Mail-In ballots.

00:12:24,800	And I see the security steps that they take and their steps to validate them. And I believe they are safe. And in fact, when we had questions about whether our ballots were absentee, ballots were, okay, I said, you need to see the process that we use to verify. It’s very complex and it covers all the bases.

00:12:48,070	All right. Any additional comments from either of you? All right. The next question is for Marla. First, after controversies in the office over the last few years, what would you do to restore hope, to restore public confidence in the county’s investment and financial management practices? And what safeguards would you put in place that don’t exist today?

00:13:13,670	Well, I watched all the controversy and, um, I think right now the system in place is a very good one. I know there was concerns that the chief financial officer at one time did not have the qualifications, but I believe that the system that we have now is very strong in

00:13:34,170	protecting our finances. And I think our financial officer and the deputy officers are bonded great. They know what they’re doing and we need to have faith in them. So all right, Thomas. Um, the responsibility does fall on the, the the treasurer and finance department.

00:14:01,400	However, as the auditor’s office started with responsibility, when it was auditor, treasurer, uh, at least three years back. And before when, when Kevin Glatt was auditor, the responsibility was up here. A lot of the statutory requirements, uh, were, per the auditor or the treasurer, mostly the auditor.

00:14:19,370	Um, but then within the last couple years, the responsibility came down to the bottom. Um, there isn’t as much collaboration between the two offices as there should be. Again, with my experience in both sides of the auditor and Treasurer’s office, I would like to see if auditor like to see that collaboration raise back up against.

00:14:36,970	So there is double checks. There is cooperation between the two. We can be more efficient and effective for Burleigh County. All right. Any additional comments at all? All right. This question is for Thomas. First, what would you do to improve public understanding of property assessments, tax levies and why an individual’s taxpayer’s bill changes from year to year.

00:15:01,030	A lot of this question, um, does depend on many different factors whether or not you’re out in the county, whether you’re not or whether you’re in, uh, Bismarck.

00:15:19,100	The biggest thing in fluctuations in the amount of property taxes you pay, especially now that we have the 3% property tax cap, is going to be valuations, um, depending on your valuation, how you’re assessed, that is the determining factor because there is less flexible fluctuation in the amount of, uh, appropriations. Uh, for public funding.

00:15:45,600	I do think that there is, uh, the teams that are working on assessing, such as the tax equalization department within Burleigh County. I think they’re very fair in their assessments. They’re always open to listening to, uh, different opinions on valuations. There is a process set for people that do have a problem with how their valuation is. But again, that’s the biggest factor in terms of, uh, increase in property taxes at this point. With that 3% cap.

00:16:05,600	All right, Marla. Well, I, um, I understand what what the concern is for the city or the county constituents as far as they’re assessing. And I would make sure that our assessors are highly trained so that they are going out there and they know what they’re looking for.

00:16:34,570	They’re looking at past building permits, things like that. And like you said, the 3% cap, um, and I know when your property taxes go up because your house is assessed at a higher value than what you paid for it, it’s really hard to understand. But with the way the market is today, those things fluctuate. And I think their taxes will fluctuate.

00:16:57,030	And I would sit down and just explain the system to people because they, a lot of them don’t know how the system works, how their property is assessed and why it’s assessed. At this rate. All right. Any additional comments at all? All right. The next question is for Marla.

00:17:20,370	First, what would you do to improve recruitment or retention of poll workers? Well, I, um I have friends that are poll workers and sometimes they’re not too happy with the pay that they’re getting. That would work.

00:17:48,700	And then, like I say to other people, when they have concerns about the election and things, I’ll say to them, you know, join it, become a poll worker, learn how it’s done. But I really do think that education of our poll workers is very important. And the fact that we, as the county, need to understand that our poll workers are giving their time to us and make sure that they’re respected, respect goes a long way. All right, Thomas.

00:18:12,670	There’s a reason why people are volunteering to be poll workers in the sense that it’s a civic duty. It’s a privilege to be able to serve the community, to be out there and help. The fact that we pay people is is our show of appreciation to that. In terms of recruiting new poll workers, we’re doing very well.

00:18:36,100	Uh, we have approximately 200 poll workers that are assigned to polling locations and already signed up. And we’re looking at probably another 40 or 50 that are on standby. So we continually see some of the group of poll workers exit each election. But they are luckily replaced with younger people.

00:18:54,500	I’m proud to say we have four poll workers this year that are for the general election that are 18 or under, which is fantastic. We previously have had one for a couple election cycles, but again, the biggest thing is word of mouth from those poll workers having the good experiences.

00:19:11,330	All right. Any additional comments from either of you? I think that, um, when we’re recruiting and looking at people to join poll workers, we need to stress that this is how our democracy works. And by being a poll worker, you are a part of that, and you are seeing how the system works.

00:19:36,000	And it helps answer the questions that they would have. All right. So our next question is for Thomas. First, what is your philosophy on property tax equalization and appeals. How would you ensure taxpayers are treated consistently while complying with North Dakota law? Uh, I’m not a member of our tax equalization department.

00:20:00,770	I have a partial knowledge of of the process. I know that our tax equalization department with Burleigh County, uh, is very focused on continuing education, proper certifications, and knowing what, you know, the basics and, and the advanced methods of property assessing now in, in Burleigh County and Bismarck, you have different stages that

00:20:25,800	you have to go through. If you have a property tax owner that is upset with their valuations, they have to first, you know, apply or apply for an abatement with the City of Bismarck.

00:20:39,530	If it’s denied, then they have to go to Burleigh County and then if it’s denied there, they can go to the state. So there is a process set up for it. And I don’t know anybody that’s on our tax equalization team. That wouldn’t be more than happy to take the time with a taxpayer to address any of those issues. All right, Marla.

00:20:54,600	Can you repeat the question again? Sure. What is your philosophy on property tax equalization and appeals? How would you ensure taxpayers are treated consistently while complying with North Dakota law? Um, I’m pretty on board with what Thomas has said. I do believe our tax assessing department is very good, and I do understand the appeal process.

00:21:21,100	I’ve watched it through with through our meetings that we have here and that are posted on Dakota media access, and I do understand that people have a concern, and I do want to make sure I would make sure that they know that they can appeal it. And the process for appeal. That’s a big thing.

00:21:42,970	All right. Do any of you have any additional comments? All right. The next question is for Marla. First. What changes do you believe the auditor’s office will need to make to keep pace with population, population growth, technology and increasing demands on county government? Well, I think the auditor’s office, when you have a county

00:22:10,230	auditor, um, now our county has a county manager, which will help with that. We have our finance, where before we had the county auditor, treasurer combined. So I think just splitting them has made a big change. And I think that we do need to make sure everything’s on the line.

00:22:33,600	And when people want to do research, um, because I know in my capacity I did a lot of research and things were not online. And I think for our growing population and our younger growing population, we need to set up electronic systems so that they can go online and find the information that they want. All right. Thomas.

00:22:55,070	I think Burleigh County, um, where they’re positioned right now, has done a very good job in providing, uh, accessibility and services to people beyond just conventional at the counter. Um, there are always room, room for improvement. But again, we have a good base as to where we’re starting at.

00:23:16,070	We have a big focus on serving the public and making sure that’s as efficient, as effective as possible. We have, um, plenty of opportunity to work with the new county administrator, who I know is a big advocate of online activities.

00:23:39,700	Um, just in terms of whatever we can take care of in person, it’ll benefit the, uh, taxpayer a lot more if they can just easily access it online. So we are I think we’re positioned good our position very well. But we there’s always room for improvement. All right. Do either of you have any additional things to add? All right. Uh, this next question, we start with Thomas.

00:24:00,770	First. If you discovered that a previous administration had made a significant financial tax or election related mistake, how would you handle it publicly? And what would you do to prevent the problem from happening again? I think those are two entirely separate situations.

00:24:23,770	If something was financially, uh, an error was made financially in a previous administration, uh, the first thing to investigate is what happened and what do we need to do now? What do we need to fix? Um, there’s always usually when there’s mistakes, there’s conversations with different, you know, whether or not it’s taxing districts or with if it’s in-house.

00:24:43,200	But you would have to bring that forward right away. There’s you have to disclose it to the public. Now, as for elections. Uh, that’s one of the things where you don’t make you people are human. Mistakes do happen. But when they do, you have to. You know, I, me personally, if something happened, I would reach out to the Secretary of State’s office for guidance.

00:25:03,230	Um, you know, if something is happening in Burleigh County, it’s probably happened somewhere else in the state. So they would be the experts on the resource. But it does have to be made known to the public. All right. Marla.

00:25:25,170	Well, before that, the financial mistake was given to the public. Um, I would want to make sure that it was actually, um, a major mistake. And that before we announce it, we know where the mistake was made. We don’t just say, you know, so-and-so did this. We need to.

00:25:50,230	I’ve seen in the past where things were off the rails before all the research was in, and all the audits were done. And I think that by training and stepping back, making sure we have all the information, I do believe that the public needs to know, but I need I believe they need to know the accurate information and not while we saw this.

00:26:14,000	And we’re going to jump on it right away. But let’s fix it first and find out where it came from. Great. Thank you. Do either of you have any additional comments? All right. Uh, this next question is for Marla.

00:26:37,200	First, what would you do to make the county budget and financial information easier for ordinary residents to understand? Well, I have a degree in education, so I’m very big on education. Um, I think that we need to educate our public on what a bond issue is, what this item is.

00:27:06,030	And I think just basic education and get the information out there, maybe do pamphlets or things that frequently asked questions about financials. I think that’s I’m very big on education, and I believe that when a subject comes up that people are concerned about, we have a duty. The county auditor has the duty to educate the public as to why this is the way we do things. All right, Thomas.

00:27:27,930	Um, I think that, uh, more, uh, education on the budget process and, uh, how the budget is laid out is, is needed. I know that we have slowly progressed on that. I wouldn’t say slowly, but we have progressed on that. Uh, on our website.

00:27:47,830	Just simple things, starting with, you know, tax statements and education on tax statements and how they everything is calculated and how to read the statement. So I think maybe something to that extent can be taken for the budget. However, I do think a lot of attention needs to be paid to the actual budget posted online.

00:28:05,430	If you look at the actual preliminary budget that’s online, it’s easier to understand when you’re actually seeing it in conjunction with watching the preliminary budget hearing or upcoming finance final budget. Uh, you can learn a lot just by listening to the conversations in the dialogue that are going on there. All right.

00:28:27,730	Any additional comments from either of you? All right. Next question will start with Thomas, first as clerk of the county commission. How would you ensure that public records, financial documents, meeting minutes and other county records are accurate, accessible and properly preserved? Um, as a member of the auditor’s office right now, uh, the auditor and I are responsible for the minutes.

00:28:50,130	Um, financial records, just record keeping in general for the county and the county commission. Um, a majority of our, uh, you know, just for example, say, the minutes, the minutes, um, uh, they’re published online after once approved, they’re published in the newspaper. Um, we do have actual physical records of all of the, uh, minutes signed.

00:29:15,870	Um, everything is accessible. We have, uh, books, novels of of minutes from back the 1800s that we’ve had people come in and we’ll find a spot for you. Sit down and you can peruse the the minutes to look for what you’re looking for. But they everything is accessible and we’ll continue to do so. All right.

00:29:38,130	Marla? Yeah. Um, I know the auditor’s office, and I know the records and the secretary code lays out exactly how and when you have to post things, when you have to post your minutes, it tells the county auditor exactly what needs to be done.

00:30:02,630	And I’ve worked with the Century Code, and I worked with building, planning, zoning, making sure that notifications are out in time on the deadline to make sure everything’s on the internet, to make sure we have hard copies. I would like to see, um, just because I like history, I would like to see the old county records.

00:30:25,200	We have records back to the beginning of the county commission, and I would like to see those online. Thomas talked about the big books and they are huge. And I would like to see those put online. All right. Thank you. Any additional comments from either of you? Right. Next question is for Marla.

00:30:51,300	First, what, if anything, would you change to make voting more convenient? And Burleigh County? Well, Thomas would be better on that because he does work with the voting. But I do know that Mail-In voting is very important to the residents of early county. And having access to voting places or, um, access to Mail-In voting, things like that.

00:31:25,570	Um, I would probably talk to Thomas and ask him, all right, because that’s his specialty. All right. Thomas. Um, I think Burleigh County has done a really good job with the assistance of the Secretary of State’s elections department. Um, we have, uh, an array of different voting options for plenty of people from absentee voting, which starts next Thursday, a week from tomorrow.

00:31:47,900	Um, we have early vote at the event center for every precinct throughout the county that goes from October 22nd till to November 2nd. Um, on election day, we have 18 different polling locations. We have plenty of locations located throughout Burleigh County and throughout the county.

00:32:10,300	We have, uh, polling locations in each of the small communities scattered throughout in the rural areas. Um, and again, we have 200 plus poll workers that are willing and eager to help anybody that walks in, show them how the process works, any assistance. And also us at the county office. We are always there to give different options for voting..

00:32:35,400	Any additional information you’d like to share? See what I say when I would defer to Thomas, because that is his position and me as a manager or as the county auditor.

00:33:03,200	I realized I don’t know everything and I don’t know all the processes, so I would defer to people like Thomas or the financial direction director to assist me and answer my questions, because nobody goes into a position knowing everything that needs to be done in that position, and we need to defer to those that do know it. All right. Thank you. And that was our last question. So I’m going to start with Marla. You will have 60s to provide a closing statement.

00:33:23,930	Well, I just think that, um, I would be a good county auditor for Burleigh County. I know Burleigh County. I’ve lived in Burleigh County since 1976, and in my old position, um, I learned a lot about county and how the county works and what the people of the county really need.

00:33:50,700	I mean, I think in the last since 2014, anybody that was building in the county talked to me. So because that was my position and I have worked with zoning, and now that I’m retired, I will be able to take my expertise and my abilities, my skills, my education, and put 100% for the auditor’s position. It would be my full time job.

00:34:21,070	All right, Thomas. Um, again, Thomas Larson, running for Burleigh County auditor. I believe I bring, uh, experience. I bring leadership abilities, and I am committed to serving Burleigh County. Um, again with, uh, you know, three years with the auditor treasurer’s office, 25 years plus the management experience.

00:34:46,800	I’m looking to, you know, increase efficiencies within the county, uh, grow accountability, continue running secure elections and keep on providing dependable service to the public. And I know there is a lot to learn with any new position, but with the auditor role, I’m ready to work on day one.

00:35:08,130	I work hand in hand with the current auditor, and again I will keep on learning. But I am able to do the job from day one. All right. Thank you. I wish to thank Dakota Media Access, AARP of North Dakota, the Bismarck Chamber, ADC, the Bismarck Tribune, and the volunteers from the League of Women Voters for organizing this debate.

00:35:26,300	Thank you to the voters for taking the time to learn more about the Burleigh County Auditor candidates and the issues. This program will air several times on the Midco channel 602. It will also be available for on demand viewing at DakotaMediaAccess.

00:35:43,400	org and on all the Dakota Media Access apps, in the days leading up to the November 3rd election. Before we close this debate, we remind you that you will need a form of identification to vote in North Dakota.

00:35:59,900	You can find identification requirements and additional voting information on the websites or at the offices of our county auditor and the North Dakota Secretary of State for candidate profiles, please visit Vote411.org.