Hunt named Auditor of the Year

RITZVILLE – Heidi Hunt has been named Auditor of the Year, an honor bestowed on her by Secretary of State Kim Wyman.

Wyman said Hunt has been instrumental with her work on the VoteWA project and consistently working toward harmony between the Washington State Association of County Auditors (WSACA) and the Office of the Secretary of State.

Wyman presented the award to Hunt during the 2020 WASCA conference, held online this year.

"This county auditor asks good questions, is always pleasant and courteous, very responsive, and always very grateful for any assistance received," Wyman said. "She is a very hands-on auditor, jumping in to help whenever she can."

A county auditor performs four major functions, according to WASCA; ex-officio supervisor of elections and voter registration, recording and maintenance of permanent county records, licensing of vehicles and vessels and financial services.

"She has always been kind and gracious when working with our certification and training team on her reviews, election cost reimbursements and when other questions arise. She is thoughtful and considerate of her employees, and she works well with other county auditors," Wyman continued. "I truly appreciate that she is consistently positive about ideas and new ways to get tasks accomplished, and I truly appreciate her feedback and input. The common thread here is pleasant. When you think of pleasant and kind, I see the face of Heidi Hunt."

Hunt has been working with Adams County the past 25 years, after being hired June 1, 1995.

She served as the president of WSACA from 2019-2020, and is currently serving on the board as the past president. She is a member on the WSACA elections, finance and recording committees. Hunt also stays active in the association by visiting Olympia to participate in different legislative efforts.

In September 2019, the Office of the Washington State Auditor recognized Adams County's "dedication to making government work better." A letter to the county commissioners from State Auditor Pat McCarthy described Adams County as "a great example to other counties both small and large," specifically acknowledging Hunt "for her collaborative approach to the audit process and passion for accurate financial reporting." McCarthy called Hunt "a leader among her peers."

"Heidi regularly consults with the auditors during the audit, proactively communicating any issues or concerns. She also volunteers to provide vital feedback to our office," McCarthy wrote. "She also is a leader across the state as the President of the Washington State Association of County Auditors and a member of the Local Government Advisory Committee."