Wendy Heck, the new Washington County auditor, describing the position “as the business manager fo…

By Mary Zielinski (free-lance)

Wendy Heck, the new Washington County auditor, describing the position “as the business manager for the entire county” notes that her main responsibility is “to keeping the business going.”

Heck was appointed to the position by the Washington County Board of Supervisors, taking over July 1 from retiring auditor Curtis Mineart. The term expires December 31, 2000, and Heck is uncertain if she will seek the position in the November, 2000 elections.

It’s too soon to know,” she said, explaining she wants to see how the year goes. Undoubtedly, though, a main asset is “the staff here. They are very good at their jobs,” and have made the transition from Mineart to her “fairly smooth. It would not be if the staff was not so capable.”

That includes deputy auditors Phyllis Hofer and Shirley Steele, both of whom were re-appointed to their positions July 1. In fact, she noted that the combined years of experience for the staff is 64 years.

“And that’s a very good total.”

Heck did not come to the auditor position without a good business background. Prior to applying for the post, she was a project manager and test development editor for ACT in Iowa City. In fact, she had been with ACT for five and one-half years when she sought the auditor post.

Her degree, a Bachelor of Science in mass communications (with emphasis upon business communications) is from the University of Iowa, something she pursued after working for the Washington Evening Journal as its family editor.

“It motivated me to want to get a degree, and I went on to college as an adult,” she explained.

A Washington native, she graduated from Washington High School, left for a time, then met and married Jim Heck. The couple had two sons (now both adults).

“Jared is a law student at the University of Iowa and Jordan works in hog production with Vittetoe,” she said.

After receiving her degree in 1987 and following a three-year stint with ACT, Heck became the first Community Relations and Marketing Director for Washington County Hospital, a position she “really enjoyed.”

She returned to ACT in 1994 when the hospital went from trustees to managed care, then this spring saw the notice for the auditor position “and I decided to apply.”

She said she talked with Mineart about the position and the extent of its responsibilities, a conversation that convinced her to apply. She was one of “seven or eight” who applied “and some, I believe, had extensive backgrounds.”

However, Heck does know the county and sees the multifaceted position was one of implementing policy.

“The auditor does not make policy. That’s the supervisors job, and basically the auditor is the secretary for the board.”

Heck sees communication as very important, something that should be done at all levels, including with the public.

She noted that much of the work involves budgets and has no reluctance about seeking information and assistance in planning budgets “whenever it is needed.”

As a registered Democrat she has replaced a life-long Republican in the position, but stressed that the job is not political; in fact, it has to transcend politics.

“It is unfortunate that it is an elected position because it is one that needs business and communication skills,” she said, adding that “the auditor is the business manager for the entire county.”

Although the county is required to have an annual audit, “there generally are two,” with the semi-annual one a preliminary examination.

What about Y2K problems?

“Y2K is being worked on,” she said of the county offices and is confident that the millennium bug will not inflict serious problems.

At this stage she does not envision changes.

“I am still learning my way around,” she said.