WINTERSET, Iowa — After several days of public interviews, Madison County has appointed a new auditor. On Thursday, the Board of Supervisors voted 2–1 to approve Matthew Schwarz for the position.

Supervisors Jessica Hobbs and Chairwoman Heather Stancil voted in favor, while Supervisor Diane Fitch opposed the appointment.

The decision followed a series of interviews with several candidates and came after the resignation of elected Auditor Teri Kaczinski. Kaczinski announced her departure in May amid controversy and after just four months on the job. Her tenure came under scrutiny after she attempted multiple times to hire her former campaign manager using county funds—twice directly through the Auditor’s Office and a third time through a third-party consulting agency she hired at a rate of $250 an hour, despite significant budget cuts in the county.

Kaczinski later challenged the Board of Supervisors in court when they blocked the hire, but abruptly abandoned the lawsuit.

Public Interview Schedule

The interviews were open to the public and included the following candidates. Employment details were gleaned from the applications and resumes they provided to the Madison County BOS:

Monday, June 30

• 2 p.m.: Alexis Gonzales, a Winterset resident, currently works as a Background Investigator at Equifax in West Des Moines.
• 3 p.m.: Matthew Schwarz, a Winterset resident, serves as President and CEO of a consulting company called Schwarz Forensic Enterprises and works as a Heavy Equipment Operator and Foreman with Wenthold Excavating in Elkhart.

Tuesday, July 1

• 8:30 a.m.: Bella Johnson — Her resume was not provided to WHO 13, and she did not attend her interview, according to the Madison County Auditor’s Office.
• 9:30 a.m.: Randyl Taber, a Van Meter resident, is a self-employed, college-educated Investment Advisor and Certified Financial Planner with Taber Financial Advisors.
• 10:30 a.m.: Michelle Brant, an Earlham resident and the most recent Madison County Board Clerk who has publicly voiced concerns over transparency within the county government. She holds a Master’s Degree in Finance from Drake University.

Thursday, July 3

• 10 a.m.: Makayla (Simpson) Joyce, the current Elections Deputy in the Auditor’s Office, withdrew her candidacy and did not interview.
• 11 a.m.: Lawra Mathes, a Lorimor resident, is currently the First Deputy Auditor.

Board Decision and Appointment

Following the interviews, the board held a special session Thursday afternoon to deliberate and vote on the appointment. Schwarz was selected for the position, which pays $80,424.16.

During his interview, Schwarz said he was born and raised in eastern Iowa and moved to the Des Moines area in 2012. In 2020, he relocated to Madison County after purchasing 60 acres of land.

Schwarz said he applied for the auditor position after following recent news coverage surrounding the role, adding that he felt a responsibility to give back to the community. He emphasized a preference for controlled communication over speaking openly with reporters.

“I am a firm believer that communication should be handled through written statements or press releases,” he said. “Interviewing — especially off the cuff with media — only opens you up to editing, misinterpretation, or being quoted incorrectly.”

Schwarz said he spent 16 years as a sworn law enforcement officer before becoming a private contractor, a role he has held for another 16 years. His resume includes work with the Davenport, West Liberty, and Muscatine Police Departments. He said his consulting firm provides services to local, state, and federal governments.

He also described himself as an inventor, certified assessor, scientific author, and subject matter expert, noting he has served on numerous governing boards.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Madison County and am looking forward to it,” Schwarz told WHO 13’s Katie Kaplan by phone on Thursday.

Schwarz said his strengths in efficiency and time management align well with the Auditor’s duties and that he sees the position as a way to apply his analytical skills. He also stated he is not active on social media and would assign a staff member to manage official communications to stay in accordance with Iowa law.

According to a public resignation letter posted by Kaczinski, which was accepted by the BOS during the Tuesday, May 13 public meeting, her resignation takes effect July 4, 2025. Schwarz is expected to be sworn in at the Madison County Courthouse in Winterset on Monday, July 7, at 9 a.m.