Marion’s Stutler challenges Linn Auditor Joel Miller in primary

Marion Democrat Joe Stutler has announced he will challenge incumbent Linn County Auditor Joel Miller this coming primary.

Stutler, 52, a veteran of the U.S. Army and Army National Guard, announced Wednesday he is seeking the Democratic nomination in the upcoming June 7 primary.

Stutler pointed to nomination signatures he has received from several county elected officials including all five supervisors.

'When you gain the bipartisan support of virtually every single elected county official when challenging a longtime incumbent who has served with every one of those elected officials, it's a sign that something is very wrong,” Stutler said in the release. 'It's time to end the needless and pointless waste of time and taxpayer resources on personal battles, and it's time to restore transparency, accountability, and collaboration to the Auditor's office.”

Stutler, who holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Hamilton College and an associates in information networking, serves on the Democratic National Committee's Veterans & Military Families Council, the Iowa Democratic Party's Veterans & Disabilities Caucuses and as a precinct representative on the Linn County Democratic Party Central Committee.

Current Auditor Miller, who was first elected in 2007, said has said this will be his last bid for the elected position.