Meet the candidates running for Dallas County auditor in the Nov. 5 general election

Republican Todd Halbur and Democrat Robert Oller will face one another in the Nov. 5 general election for Dallas County auditor.

Current Auditor Julia Helm is running unopposed for the Dallas County Board of Supervisors.

To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal, Des Moines area legislative and local candidates running for political office this year. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Learn More: Your Iowa Voter Guide 2024

Who is Todd Halbur?

Age: 57

Party: Republican

Where grew up: I grew up in Carroll and my ancestors founded the neighboring town of Halbur

Current town of residence: I live in Clive and have been a Dallas County resident for the last 22 years.

Education: Carroll High School; University of Iowa, bachelor's in business

Occupation: Small business owner of a school supply distribution company and licensed Realtor

Political experience and civic activities: In 2022 I won the Republican primary to be the Republican candidate in the November election for state auditor. From 2008-2013 my wife and I founded and operated a nonprofit, Teacher Tools 4 Tomorrow, that provided teachers in lower-income schools throughout Iowa with classroom supplies. Several volunteer hours at school activities, school sports and church activities. Volunteer hours with programs at the United Way, Habitat for Humanity and Meals from the Heartland.

More: Should Dallas County Board of Supervisors expand to 5 members? Issue to be on fall ballot

Who is Robert Oller?

Age: 28

Party: Democratic

Where grew up: Wichita, Kansas

Current town of residence: Waukee

Education: Bachelor's in economics with a dual major in modern languages (French)

Occupation: Reinsurance analyst

Political experience and civic activities: Volunteering with the Special Olympics in Iowa and Meals from the Heartland.

Why are you running?

Halbur: My wife and I have lived and raised our family in Dallas County for the past 22 years. Election integrity is vital for all citizens, not just political parties. We need to move onward and upward together for safe, secure and fair elections. Dallas County is the fastest growing county in the state of Iowa, and we need to be the leaders in maintaining the safety and security of our sacred expression to vote.

Oller: Local government, elections, and the people who run them are the foundation of our democracy and a source of great pride for Dallas County. Ensuring that we continue to uphold our rights to free, secure elections will always be vital to our protecting our liberties and to the health of our county. Additionally, keeping our local governments fiscally responsible and accountable in their budgets is necessary to continue the success of our growing communities. As a young person, I want to inspire others like me to participate in those communities and do the hard work that supports our great county.

What is the most important issue facing Dallas County and how would you address it in office?

Halbur: Our country needs a recovery in the morale of our election integrity. I will continue to provide the integrity of securely printing our paper ballots, programming and software of our ballot tabulators, and the security of processing our absentee ballots. I will commit to follow our election laws and constitution. I pledge that the Dallas County Auditor's Office will continue to be open, accountable and accessible to all of our Dallas County citizens.

Oller: The most important issue facing Dallas County from an auditor's perspective is division and distrust of our own neighbors. To approach this, we have to provide clear, accessible access to voting information to those eligible and to build trust with the people in our elections. To do this, I would train poll workers from all backgrounds and with a range of political ideologies to come together not as partisans, but as Iowans.

Phillip Sitter covers the western suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at [email protected] or on X at @pslifeisabeauty.  

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meet the candidates running for Dallas County auditor