By Tim Leeds
Kathy Olson, a Democrat, has filed to run for the office of Hill County auditor.
Olson, a Havre High School graduate, earned a bachelor of science degree in business from Montana State University-Northern and has been deputy auditor since 1998. Mary Ann Trumpour, the current auditor, said today she is not running for re-election.
Olson began working in the clerk and recorder's office in 1990, and moved to working full time in the auditor's office in 1996. She said her background will help her with the duties of the office if she is elected.
"It's probably about half and half between experience and my education," she said.
The auditor's office handles money matters for the county, running the payroll, paying bills and auditing the finances of the other departments in the county. The office, which has a four-year term, has an annual salary of $32.423.
The biggest difficulty in working at the office is timing, Olson said.
"Our biggest hurdle is probably deadlines. We live by deadlines."
The deadlines are imposed on the auditor's work from several levels, including the state and federal governments.
Olson was working part time for the clerk and recorder's office when she received her business degree. She served eight years in the Montana Air National Guard, and lives in Havre with her husband, Larry, who works for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.
Along with crafts and spending time with her family, Olson said she and her husband enjoy sports. They have been active in athletics in the community, including playing softball and volleyball.
