Elliott Joins the Ballot for Scott County Auditor

Candidate hosts first brown bag lunch at Lincoln Park this Friday.

Davenport, IA - On Tuesday August 26, 2008, Michael D. Elliott filed the necessary affidavit to run for Scott County Auditor. Elliott submitted over 490 signatures, exceeding the minimum 250 required for placement on the ballot by petition for the contested office of auditor.
Elliott is a small business owner in west Davenport. His candidacy offers voters an alternative to his two opponents, Steve Ahrens and Roxanna Morritz, both of whom are highly partisan and unqualified for the position of auditor.
Elliott is committed to the rule of law for the citizens of Scott County. He has studied the federal, and state constitutions as well as the relevant codes for Scott County voting rights. Elliott is committed to ensuring that the auditor’s fair, transparent and inclusive thirty-year record is maintained.
Elliott’s supporters claim that neither of his two-party opponents promise such continuity, and that Elliott is the only candidate that can be trusted to place the interest of Scott County voters first, create more public awareness of voting rights issues, while providing the effective non partisan stewardship the office requires.

Elliott will be hosting a brown bag lunch this Friday to talk about voting in Scott County and recruiting volunteers to help with an educational film series and targeted door-to-door canvassing. Interested citizens are encouraged to bring their lunch and enjoy the sweeping river views from the park and learn more about Michael D. Elliott.
Mr. Elliott will be available for discussion and interviews at Lincoln Park at the foot of the Arsenal Bridge in downtown Davenport, 2nd Street from Noon to 1:30 p.m. this Friday, August 29, 2008.

For more information contact volunteer coordinator Elizabeth Fier at 563.676.4989.

Auditor Candidate Campaign Disclosure Reports

Independent Michael D. Elliott Oct 19 Campaign Disclosure Report

Republican Steve Ahrens Oct 19 Campaign Disclosure Report

Democrat Roxanna Moritz Oct 19 Campaign Disclosure Report

Elliott files petition to run for county auditor

(from the Quad City Times)

By Kurt Allemeier | Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Saying he wants to provide more competition and an option outside traditional political parties, a Davenport man will be added to the ballot for Scott County auditor without a party affiliation in November.

Michael Elliott, 32, filed a petition Tuesday with 493 signatures. Even though he is a registered Republican, he will appear on the ballot listed as “nominated by petition.”

He joins Democrat Roxanna Moritz and Republican Steve Aherns on the ballot. The county auditor’s seat is open after the death in April of longtime incumbent Karen Fitzsimmons. Wes Rostenbach, who was appointed auditor after Fitzsimmons’ death, is not seeking election to the post. The auditor position’s salary is $74,200.

Elliott, who runs a computer electronics company out of his home, said he intends to focus his campaign on the need for appropriate checks on the collection and tabulation of votes. He sees the auditor as a stewardship position that shouldn’t be partisan.

He’s heard positive comments about his candidacy from people who want someone outside the two major parties to provide some competition.

“I have support from Republicans and Democrats who aren’t straight-ticket voters,” he said. “There are some people who like seeing the competition.”

He was a volunteer leader in Scott County for Ron Paul’s bid for president. Paul ran as a Republican.

Kurt Allemeier can be contacted at (563) 383-2360 or kallemeier@qctimes.com.

Independent works to get into Scott County auditor race

(from the Quad City Times)

By Ed Tibbetts | Thursday, August 14, 2008

A Davenport man who says he wants to raise awareness about dangers to the integrity of the country’s voting process says he is running for Scott County auditor.

Michael Elliott, 32, of 1906 W. 3rd St., has been circulating petitions to run for the office as an Independent. Already, the Republicans and Democrats have nominated candidates.

Elliott, who runs a computer electronics company out of his home, said he intends to focus his campaign on the need for appropriate checks on the collection and tabulation of votes.

“There’s a lot of ways the system can be manipulated,” he said.

Elliott said Iowa’s election system is clean but that it must safeguard against encroachments that could damage its credibility.

In recent years, especially since the disputed 2000 presidential election, critics have raised questions about the country’s patchwork of election laws and systems. For the most part, state statutes govern the means of electing people for local, state and federal offices.

“Specifically, we’re looking to have somebody run in the auditor position who is liberty minded,” said Elliott, who county records say is a registered Republican.

He also was a volunteer leader in Scott County for Ron Paul’s bid for president. Paul ran as a Republican.

The county auditor’s seat is open this election following the death in April of longtime incumbent Karen Fitzsimmons.

The county Republican Party has nominated former Davenport Alderman Steve Ahrens to run for the office, while Democrats chose Scott County Supervisor Roxanna Moritz.

The auditor’s office, in addition to supervising elections, also is the clerk to the county board.

The deadline for independent candidates to file is Aug. 27. Elliott hadn’t yet collected the requisite number of signatures to get on the ballot but said he will do so by the deadline. Two-hundred and fifty signatures are required.

Ed Tibbetts can be contacted at (563) 383-2327 or etibbetts@qctimes.com.