"My background is in elections, and that's one of the most important parts of the secretary of state's office," Mauro said during a fundraiser in Council Bluffs this week. "The Secretary of State's office has taken on more importance because the voter registration system is now located there. It used to be in the counties' Auditor's offices."
For nearly a decade, Mauro has served as the auditor of Polk County, Iowa's most populous county. He decided to seek the secretary of state's office when the current office holder, Chet Culver, announced his intention to run for governor.
"It's a natural progression," Mauro said.
He is against tougher restrictions or more regulations on voting for the sake of voter safety and security. You can accomplish that and still have it easy and accessible for the voters, Mauro said.
He also wants to keep promoting early, or absentee, voting.
"People like that," he said. "You can't restrict them to one day."
Mauro wants to streamline voter services so they are easier to use and access and utilize the most current technology to make voting simpler across the state.
Council Bluffs holds a special place in his heart, Mauro said. Really.
A native of Des Moines, Mauro taught at St. Albert School in the early 1970s.
"I met my wife on a blind date in Council Bluffs," he said. "My life started here."
He is married to the former Dorothy Fischer.
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