Candidate for Auditor: Chandra Schumacher

DAVENPORT- Chandra Schumacher was named interim Lincoln County Auditor last year, after former auditor Shelly Johnston's resignation after 33 years.

Schumacher is a third-generation farmer and currently resides in Harrington.

She got a degree in accounting from Eastern Washington University.

Schumacher has several years of accounting experience and five years with Odessa Union.

She worked for EWU for 10 years and worked her way up to Chief Budget Officer in the EWU foundation department.

"I have always prided myself on service leadership," Schumacher said. "I have always wanted to give back."

Schumacher felt led to other career options when working at EWU, even though she loved the job.

"Working at EWU was great, but I felt like something was missing," she said. "This opportunity came up."

Running for full-term has been on Schumacher's mind since Johnston's departure.

"I felt like this was a really good way to give back to a community," she said. "That has given me a lifetime of great memories and support."

The Lincoln County Auditor's position is one that requires many skills.

"It has been challenging for sure," Schumacher said. "But it has been an incredible journey so far and I am not even a year in."

Finance and budgeting are just one of the auditor's many duties.

"Mostly my expertise comes in that finance area," she said. "Budgeting, government accounting and auditing government entities."

Schumacher said that as a CPA she is required to take an Ethics course every four years.

"I am required to take so much in certified education credits" she said. "That, I think also gives me an ability to see a different side to elections."

"I have been a manager a combined 25 years," she said. "Managing staff is amazing and also a challenge."

"The Lincoln County Auditor's Office has an amazing team." Schumacher said of her current experience managing employees.

Elections are a busy time for the auditor's office and public record requests aren't so black and white.

"You can come in and view the voters' ballots," she said. "You cannot take pictures and we cannot send them to anyone."

"I made the change of bringing everything that was public to one central area," she said. "So, we could have better flow of employee support."

Another big change she would like to incorporate would be the use of credit cards.

"That step would give people the ability to search their own records," Schumacher said.

Schumacher is running unopposed.

Bio: Chandra Schumacher

Position Sought: County Auditor

Age: 44

Family: Married with one child

Hometown: Harrington

Current Residence: Harrington

Relevant Experience: Interim Lincoln County Auditor, CPA, Government Accounting