Former Citibank official Ben Kyte has been at the helm of the Minnehaha County Auditor's Office since being appointed in 2020 ahead of the retirement of  his predecessor Bob Litz, who served in that role for a decade.

But Kyte came up second in the June GOP primary election, leaving no incumbent in the race for county auditor in the general election on Nov. 8.

The Dakota Scout asked both candidates in the race how they intend to strengthen election integrity and efficiencies in the auditor’s office, which is responsible not only for running county elections but also for balancing books for the county, maintaining financial records, preparing monthly financial reports, processing county liquor license applications and calculating tax levies.