Election chief calls it quits ahead of general election

Steele County election chief Jennifer Mueller is leaving her position just days after the Aug. 11 State Primary and just months before the Nov.3 election.

According to the agenda packet for the Aug.11 Commissioners meeting, she is resigning from her position as Property Tax & Elections director effective Friday.

In 2022, the county moved from elected treasurer and auditor positions and instead made them department-director-level positions. 

Mueller began in her role in November 2023, serving as the chief election official for the county during the 2024 Presidential election. 

Mueller formerly worked in banking, which then County Administrator Scott Golberg said “is a function of the job market.” Finding someone with experience as an auditor would have likely meant “poaching” employees from other counties.

“We had to go with the best available,” he said at the time. “County positions are not in the private sector.”

In an email Monday, County Administrator Renae Fry said, “The election process has been professionally managed by staff other than our Property Tax and Elections Director for several years.

“That being said, our plan is to continue with our trained elections team and our Recorder, Rick Kvien, is getting up to speed in order to supervise the team and provide assistance as may be needed,” she said.