Systems expertise is important in auditor’s office

I’m Terry Chostner, running for Linn County Auditor. Because the people I’ve heard from want to know that their elections are accurate, and their taxes are being spent wisely. I’m a husband and father and a professional with a passion for financial responsibility and love the community I’ve been a part of for 24 years.

I have 40 years of high-tech manufacturing experience, including electronics, quality management, and sales engineering. And part of the sales job includes 20 years as a return on investment (ROI) specialist. Community volunteering includes Cub Scout Pack leader, poll election official and polling site chairperson, member of the Linn County sustainability and resiliency committee, Kennedy High School booster club president, and volunteer of the year in the Cedar Rapids school district. Education includes a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and an Associate of Applied Science in Electronics Technology.

I’m uniquely qualified at creating capable systems. For election services, I’ll apply a quality tool used in manufacturing processes and supply chains to measure and control variation. Called statistical process control (SPC), critical characteristics are identified and measured, the variation is calculated, and then you know how capable the process is. One example is the first ever electronic cruise control we designed for Ford, manufacturing 12,000 good ones per day. The quality was so good Toyota copied it. Quality tools are already used by the Linn County Auditors office, and SPC’s will result in continuous improvements.

I’m good at budgets, and the auditor’s office is Budget Central for all government entities. At home, we follow Dave Ramsey’s program. In business, my customers have saved millions doing ROIs with me. Here’s how it works: ask the best questions and listen, gather costs, calculate benefits of the new (process or technology), total the cost of ownership, and calculate the return time, which usually average a 12-month payback. Saving money and creating efficiency. I’ll work closely with the Board of Supervisors and provide ROI services to all the Linn Co departments.

The auditor reports to the residents of Linn County, and I’ll use my experience to improve financial accountability, election quality, and transparency of the office. I’m asking for your vote, Terry Chostner for Linn County Auditor.

Terry Chostner is the Republican candidate for Linn County Auditor.