An in-office candidate 

or a fresh look at an 

important department

By Robert Williams

Editor

The largest contrast between those participating in Thursday’s League of Women Voters Candidate Forums at M-State in Detroit Lakes was between Auditor-Treasurer candidates Kim Frederick and Amy Rosing.

In the first discussion of the night, many of Frederick’s answers centered around her experience of working in the county office with current Auditor-Treasurer Mary Hendrickson, while Rosing sought to bring a new perspective to the position from outside the office.

Frederick has worked in the office for the past 13 years and she discussed her comprehensive knowledge of how complex the workings of the office can be.

“It gives me that knowledge and kind of a one-up on my competition here,” she said.

Frederick has also been the Riceville Township Clerk for the past seven years and has over 20 years of a corporate financial background.

“I think that unique combination of corporate and government gives me a leg up on knowing the investments and financial knowledge and having that commitment to the public,” she said.

Rosing has 25 years of managerial experience: 10 years as a Human Resources and Payroll Manager for Walmart and 15 years as an Office Manager for Ace Electric and Lighting in Detroit Lakes.

“I’m very familiar with dealing with a large number of employees and being a leader and responsible for everyone and the aspects; Walmart is a corporation that is not shy with policies and procedures, so I’m very familiar with needing to implement and make sure that happens.”

Her most recent experience involves Human Resources, payroll and federal and state taxes.”

“I have a very big background in the managerial portion, which is this position,” she said.

Rosing highlighted her experience in how she plans to run the position and department efficiently. Her plan for the office is controlling multiple departments, help and teambuild and train within those departments. 

“Training is a huge priority to make sure the departments and the people in them run it efficiently,” she said.

Frederick responded by stating she knows how big the job is and how much responsibility and public trust comes with the job. She also stressed inclusion with her staff and not going into the job looking to make big changes, rather to make it better.

“I have seen first-hand what it takes to run that office and how the details are so important,” she said. “I also think it’s really important to remember that behind every tax statement, every license and every election is a person who lives in this community.”

Both candidates were asked about the role, specifically as it relates to working with the board of commissioners. Whether or not they feel they are a county employee or an independent, elected official.

Frederick referred to the position as the “backbone of the county,” and that it is one of the most important county positions due to it carrying so much responsibility and public trust. She referred to the relationship with the board as being an important partner to the board.

“We want to provide the financial information to them and oversee the decisions that they make,” said Frederick. “I believe the relationship should be of mutual respect and professional collaboration.”

Rosing agreed with Frederick that it is an independent, elected position.

“They are not my employer; I am not their employee; I’m your employee, if elected,” said Rosing. “There is a reason that these positions are elected and I fully support that reason. It’s because we need a voice and when I say we, I’m a citizen as well, this is my money, as well. Yes, they set the budget and yes, they decide. But they need an outside source that you select to make sure that it’s done ethically and right and has another set of eyes on it that isn’t in one of those chairs.”

Both candidates stressed the teamwork aspect of the position and everyone working together for the betterment of the counties.

Running a state-required, post-election audit of a sample of precincts showed some differences between the candidates.

Rosing does not have that level of experience, which she admitted, but repeated that these are policies and procedures and guidelines that are set and presented to her to follow.

“I don’t decide how I think it should run better; it’s given to me and that’s what I do; I read; I learn and I implement,” she said. “That’s what I’ve done with my businesses in the past.”

Frederick weighed on her 13 years of election experience in the department and training of election judges.

“In a post-election review, I’ve helped coordinate many of those and I do those ethically,” she said.

Both candidates were questioned on their past work with grant funding. Both described working with grants in their particular positions.

When asked if there are needed changes to the office Frederick was quick to answer in the affirmative.

“Positions could find better fits; I believe the communication should be better,” she said.

Frederick repeated her earlier mantra that inclusion and professionalism mean a lot.

Rosing also went back to her election being a fresh set of eyes.

“You always have to be willing to restructure, or change, or improve or implement and the communication between the people within those departments in huge,” Rosing said. “They know probably more than I will because they work with it day-to-day, so you have to listen and you have to hear them and acknowledge and implement when it seems right, when it fits and makes sense.”