Joan Wolfe announces run for Crawford County auditor

Citing her 26 years of experience and extensive, hands-on knowledge of every aspect of the office where she works, Joan Wolfe of rural Bucyrus has filed petitions seeking election as Crawford County Auditor.

“I am running for County Auditor because I believe that I am the only candidate that has the qualifications, knowledge and practical experience necessary to manage this office that is so critical to the efficient operation of our county government,” Wolfe says. “I believe my 14 years as a Deputy Auditor and 12 years as Administrator of the Real Estate and Licensing Division, along with my hands-on experience of working every day in the County Auditor’s Office give me the professional background the citizens of Crawford County have come to expect from their Crawford County Auditor.”

Wolfe also believes that her knowledge of every aspect of the County Auditor’s Office is critical because, in a small county, it is essential that a County Auditor have a working knowledge and be able to perform every job within that office.

According to Wolfe, “Management and leadership of this office can best be performed by someone who has a practiced understanding of the laws and rules that govern the office, as well as a thorough knowledge of the complicated tax and accounting systems that the office uses.”

Wolfe believes her 26 years of experience and her comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the laws that govern the Auditor’s Office, makes her the best candidate to insure the office continues to provide the most cost-effective and efficient service possible through innovative use of the technology, systems and personnel.

“With my proven record of dedication to public service and my decades of hands-on experience, I would consider it the highest honor and the highlight of my professional career, if the people of Crawford County would allow me to serve them as their Crawford County Auditor.”

In her current position, Wolfe is responsible for:
• Supervision and management of the Real Estate & Licensing Division, including the day-to-day application of all laws and rules that govern the Real Estate & Licensing.
• Ensuring that the County’s 33,000 real estate parcel records accurately reflect all legal ownership records of the County and State approved property values.
• Management of the day-to-day Real Estate Tax Accounting System, including the accurate calculation of Real Estate taxes and the application of voter approved levies and any applicable tax levy laws.
• The compilation and analysis of financial, valuation and statistical data required by the Ohio Department of Taxation; and important information needed by various schools, townships, cities and villages within the County.

As part of the core management team of the Auditor’s Office, Wolfe:
• Assisted in the automation of the tax collections, settlement, and balancing system for the County Auditor and County Treasurer. This system has reduced the time to prepare tax distributions from six weeks to approximately 4 days.
• Helping to develop and implement the Document Imaging System, to streamline the management of Government Forms and processes.
• Helping to develop the electronic accounting system to streamline electronic filing and payment of all county obligations.
• Helps develop continuous education and training programs for County Auditor personnel, keeping deputies current with technology, appraisal standards & practices, and ethics.
• Assisted in the development of the County Auditor’s Website and Geographic Information System (GIS).
• Is assisting with the future objectives, vision and mission of the County Auditor’s Office to insure the continuous innovative use of systems to keep the office running as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.

Wolfe is a graduate of Mohawk High School and Marion Technical College, with an Associate of Applied Business degree. She has continued her education by completing courses through the State of Ohio with an emphasis on Ethics and Public Records; and also through the International Association of Assessing Officers, with course work in Real Estate Appraisals, Mass Appraisal, GIS for Assessors, Income Approach to Value, Standards of Practice & Professional Ethics.

Married to Dale Wolfe, she is active in the Emanuel United Church of Christ, serving as a Deacon, Youth Sunday School Teacher, and member of the Women’s Guild. She and Dale have three adult children and (as she says) “four awesome grandchildren.”