Johnson County auditor's final straw

Gazette Editorial Board

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For 35 years, Tom Slockett has generally been a committed and competent Johnson County auditor.

He's led the department through countless changes and dozens of elections. But lately, he's also made some notable mistakes.

And though he's formally apologized for his most recent error - asking employees on county time to sign his nomination petitions - we agree with those local elected officials who have said it's time for Slockett to step down. If he doesn't, voters have enough cause to fire him.

This latest breech of public trust is compounded by other recent incidents, such as Slockett's 2007 drunken-driving conviction and allegations from former employees that the auditor created a hostile work environment.

Auditors' races don't generally attract a lot of attention, but it is an important county office - one that demands a high standard of ethics and accountability.

Slockett of Iowa City has been auditor and elections commissioner since 1977. He is up for re-election in November. No Republican has filed to run for the office, but Slockett is being challenged in the Democrats' primary by Tiffin accountant and City Council member, Travis Weipert.

At least two prominent Democrats from Johnson County - state Sen. Bob Dvorsky of Coralville and Rep. Mary Mascher of Iowa City - are supporting Slockett's opponent.

It's the only contested race this round for a Johnson County office. Supervisors and the sheriff are running unopposed.

In a guest opinion published in Thursday's Gazette, Slockett emphasized that he didn't mean to pressure his staff members into pledging their support for his candidacy.

But his explanation - that he'd done so for years without receiving any complaints - isn't good enough for someone in his position.

After decades in office and given his previous problems, Slockett should have known better than to engage in self-serving election activities at work or to give even the impression of pressuring employees to support his campaign.

Some employees have claimed they felt harassed into signing the petitions during this most recent incident. Slockett has said he's serious about restoring office morale in the coming months.

“I am determined to make the auditor's office a comfortable place to work once again,” he wrote in that guest column.

To our minds, that is the least voters should be able to expect from their county auditor. Johnson County voters deserve more than that.

It's time for Slockett to be replaced.

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