Matthew Schwartz, a forensic consultant who says he bought land in western Madison County in 2020, interviewed publicly Thursday to be appointed the county's temporary auditor, telling supervisors he would emphasize process controls, legal compliance and staff stability if selected.

Why it matters: The auditor oversees budgets, records and elections. Supervisors said they want an appointee who can stabilize the office and meet statutory deadlines; Schwartz said his consulting background in workflow optimization and evidence custody gives him relevant experience.

Schwartz opened by describing a career split between sworn law enforcement and private contracting that supports federal, state and local agencies. "My name is Matthew Schwartz. I am born and raised in Eastern Iowa," he said, noting his company, Schwartz Forensic Enterprises, provides workflow optimization and customized training for crime laboratories.

He described long-term projects with academic and federal partners and cited a high-profile engagement in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where his firm investigated, recommended fixes for and helped reorganize a crime lab after a public failure. "We came in, did all the heavy lifting of the change management," he said, adding that his team later defended the lab's interests at the state legislature.

On public communication, Schwartz said he prefers written statements and press releases over spontaneous interviews. "I'm a firm believer that communication should be done in written statements or press release," he said, and added he personally does not use social media; he would have office staff maintain any official county social accounts and rely on the county website for public postings.

Asked about legal and budgetary compliance, Schwartz said he would follow Iowa Code requirements and department guidance rather than relying on memory. He described practical steps he would implement, including calendar-driven milestones, cross-training and checklists to prevent missed deadlines: "I'm gonna actually look at it... We're gonna set these alerts up months, weeks, days in advance."

On elections, Schwartz said he would follow Secretary of State guidance to ensure uniform procedures across counties and emphasized chain-of-custody practices for voting equipment borrowed from evidence-handling best practices. He also described a step-by-step approach to protecting confidential records, including consulting the county attorney when conflicts between laws or policies appear.

Supervisors pressed on potential conflicts with Schwartz's private business and his availability for extra hours during budget and election seasons. Schwartz said his business is structured so he can adjust commitments or delegate work to maintain county responsibilities. He also said he intends to file to run for the office in November 2026 if appointed and would seek the full four-year term in 2028 if voters retain him.

The public portion of the interview concluded after a short question-and-answer period. The board then moved to a deliberative session and adjourned the public meeting; the chair called a voice vote and members responded "aye." There was no roll-call tally recorded in the public transcript.

What happens next: The supervisors said they will deliberate after the interview and will make a decision only after the current auditor's resignation is effective; the candidate said he would be available to begin on July 7 if the vacancy occurs.