Greene County Auditor Cindy Stein, a Republican, will face Democratic challenger Angela Crawford at the ballot box Nov. 3. It is the only countywide office where the incumbent candidate will see a challenger in November.
While the two candidates are running under party banners, they’ve both said the office is generally administrative and nonpartisan.
The Greene County auditor is responsible for overseeing the county’s finances and expenditures, maintaining an inventory of its assets, and preparing an annual financial statement for the county. Missouri law requires that all counties that have no charter and an assessed valuation of at least $650 million have an auditor and outlines the responsibilities of the role.
Cindy Stein
Stein, the incumbent, has served
as the Greene County auditor since being elected to her first term in 1994. She told the News-Leader that she was encouraged to run by Ernest Firsch, her mentor and predecessor in the auditor’s office, when he was in the hospital with a severe illness. She began her career in a local accounting firm, according to past News-Leader reporting.
“I have found that I love the work, the people, serving the community,” Stein said. “It’s actually been a true calling.”
Stein has moved the county’s accounting from “siloed” systems to a comprehensive financial system with purchasing and receiving information in one place. In 2012, she implemented Jack Stack’s The Great Game of Business, an open-book management strategy, in county government. The management style emphasizes financial literacy for employees and their understanding of how money flows through the business.
The county also has “huddle” meetings that are available to the public online and publishes financial information on its website.
Now, Stein’s office is rolling out another modernization. She told the News-Leader that the county will adopt new financial software in November, which will be followed by software and a portal for payroll and human resources. In mid-2027, Stein says, the county will introduce a public-facing portal for people to track progress on building permits and schedule inspections.
Angela Crawford
Crawford told the News-Leader that she decided to run for the auditor’s seat to put her 10 years finance and accounting experience to use for the community and add some competition to the county’s mostly uncontested offices.
“It’s nice sometimes to have a fresh perspective, someone that’s experienced differently, that has maybe newer knowledge, newer education, newer trainings,” Crawford said.
While the office is largely non-partisan, Crawford argues that bringing a fresh perspective from the minority party could benefit governance. She said it makes sense for an auditor “to be from the oppositional party to act as a good watchdog. That way, I don’t feel inclined to do any of my friends any favors.”
As she’s become more civically engaged, Crawford also wanted to add a Democratic choice on the ballot. She is also serving as deputy treasurer for Democrat Ashley Cossin’s campaign in Missouri House District 131.
Crawford holds an associate’s degree in business and marketing from Ozarks Technical Community College, a bachelor’s in business administration from Drury, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the accounting field at Missouri State University.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Auditor faces challenger in only contested Greene County race
