3 former Davenport aldermen want to be auditor

By Ed Tibbetts | Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Three widely known political figures said Monday that they intend to run for Scott County Auditor.

County Republicans, meanwhile, are calling a special convention for this weekend to nominate a person to run in the fall election.

Former Davenport aldermen Steve Ahrens, Tom Engelmann and Roxanna Moritz all said they are seeking the post.

Ahrens is a Republican. Moritz and Engelmann are Democrats.

The scramble for the auditor’s job has come about because of the death last month of Karen Fitzsimmons, who held the post for more than 31 years.

Scott County Republicans have scheduled the special convention to pick a nominee for 10 a.m. Saturday at the 4-H Building on the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.

County convention delegates are eligible to vote.

Bryan Sievers, the county GOP chairman, said he was not aware of anyone besides Ahrens running for the job. Another person could be nominated Saturday, however.

The competition for the auditor’s post looks to be intense, both for the Democratic nomination and in the general election.

The auditor is one of three elected officials who sit on a committee with the power to fill vacancies on the Scott County Board of Supervisors.

Republicans held that power for years, but with the election of Rita Vargas as county recorder a few years ago, it shifted to the Democrats. Treasurer Bill Fennelly, a Republican, is the third person on the panel.

Ahrens, the development director for the Davenport Levee Improvement Commission, said he worked at making government open and responsive in his years on the City Council and would seek to do that as auditor, too. Ahrens was on the City Council from 2001 to 2006.

The Democratic picture appears more competitive.

Moritz and Engelmann, a former party chairman, are the only ones definitely vying for the job thus far, but party officials say that list could grow.

Karl Rhomberg, a longtime Democratic activist who once chaired the county party and was an alderman in the 1980s, said he is “strongly considering” a bid.

Moritz, who was elected a county supervisor in 2006, said she was a strong advocate for her constituents while serving as an alderman and has a lot of election experience. “I think I have what it takes to fill that position,” she said.

Engelmann, an accountant, said his background, both as an alderman and in his profession, provides him the kind of solid experience necessary for the job.

“My job experience fits very well with running that office,” he added.

The auditor’s office, in addition to being the chief elections administrator, also serves as clerk to the County Board of Supervisors, maintaining official records.

Engelmann and Moritz both served on the Davenport City Council for six years.

While Republicans are choosing their nominee this weekend, Democrats are looking to convene in the third week of June. A date and place have not yet been chosen.

Party leaders believe they must wait until after the June 3 primary to pick a nominee, Democratic chair Susan Fremgen said.

Since Fitzsimmons died a few days after the date for removing a name from the primary ballot, hers will appear that day.

Wes Rostenbach, who was appointed county auditor last month, is not running for the job.

Ed Tibbetts can be contacted at (563) 383-2327 or etibbetts@qctimes.com.