Giddings says goodbye after one last, crazy election season

Michelle Giddings’ 32 years in the Franklin County Auditor’s Office prepared her for one of her toughest – and last – challenges.

First elected as auditor in 2000, Giddings chose to not seek reelection to the position in this year’s general election. When she announced her decision last year, a primary in June and a Presidential election in November stood between her and retirement, both things that had become routine throughout her career.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic had different plans and required Giddings and her staff to adjust to new and unprecedented parameters in order to safely host both elections. A reduction in polling places, the introduction of masks, hand sanitizer and distancing material, recruiting new poll workers and several other last second adjustments later, the elections successfully came and went.

Giddings said the new challenges posed by the pandemic required a tremendous amount of coordination and adjustment, but her two decades as auditor combined with an experienced staff and stable of volunteers helped decrease stress once Election Day arrived.

“My years of experience helped a lot in preparing for the primary and general elections but I couldn’t have done it without the staff in my office,” she said. “One person cannot conduct an election. It takes a village.

“This election was over the top, but it couldn’t have been completed without the staff in my office and I hold them in very high regard,” she added.

Not only did Giddings’ experience give her the ability to coordinate changes with staff and coworkers, she said it also allowed her to deal with the unpredictability calmly and confidently.

“Being here for so many years, you learn the ins-and-outs and what needs to be concentrated on at one moment in time because we constantly have changes,” she said.

“You have to be very flexible and willing to make a change because every day is different and you always have to try to accomplish something every day.”

The frenzied lead up to the election and a record turnout in Franklin County both through the mail and at the polls let Giddings know that she had made the correct choice for herself to retire. She said she’ll miss her staff, the volunteers and people who have supported her throughout her career. However, she said she is excited to see the direction of the office under newly elected Franklin County Auditor Katy Flint.

“This election was definitely affirmation it was time to take a step back and let someone else take over,” she said. “Every election is stressful and this one probably double that.

“I’ll miss my job and the Courthouse has become my home away from home,” she added, “but it’s time to step back and let somebody younger take it on and take these challenges.”

While this was her final election and the role will now be handed to new leadership, Giddings said she plans to use her years of experience to help the transition go as smoothly as possible.

“I have said that me leaving does not mean I’m not available to help out, I’ll still be around,” she said. “We all have our part to keep the office and the county running.”

Giddings said that she can’t help but smile at the thought that her final election was one that will be remembered for years to come. She noted that this was also the last election for about 20 other county auditors retiring in the State of Iowa this year. An eventful way to go out for many, but one in which Giddings said she was glad to play a role. She said it was a fitting way to put a bow on a career boosted by the support of her staff and the citizens of Franklin County.

“I take pride in my job and I worked for the people of Franklin County and I hope my work showed that,” she said. “I felt privileged to have this job and it’s going to be hard to leave, but I think I’m ready.”