Elective newcomers eye GC Auditor's post in primary

EPHRATA — Three newcomers to elective public office are seeking a four-year term as Grant County’s next auditor.

Shannon Falstad of Ephrata and Andrew Koeppen and Darci Homesley, both of Moses Lake, will face one another in the Aug. 4 primary election. The top two candidates advance to the November general election, with the winner taking office Jan. 1, 2027.

All three candidates are Republicans, and Falstad and Homesley are both endorsed by the Grant County Republican Party Central Committee, according to its website.  Koeppen is a former chair of the Grant County GOP, which has seen some contentious internal disputes over leadership in recent years. 

In Washington state, auditors have four key responsibilities: overseeing accounting services for  their respective counties, supervising local elections and vehicle licensing operations, and recording public documents that include marriage licenses, property deeds, and liens.

The Grant County Auditor works with a staff of 14 employees and is paid an annual salary of $125,985.

Longtime county auditor Michele Jaderlund retired on June 30, six months before completion of her final term in office. Grant County commissioners appointed Falstad as the county’s interim auditor effective July 1. She will serve until voters get their say.

Through Friday, July 17, the three candidates’ campaigns have largely been self-funded along with some business associations, individual donors and contributors of in-kind services. Those contributions and expenditures can be viewed on the state Public Disclosure Commission website.

Here’s a look at their messaging:

SHANNON FALSTAD

An Ephrata native, Falstad, 57, joined the auditor’s office in 1996, advancing to lead deputy in the recording/licensing divisions. She also supported the elections department during its busy times and handled accounts payable and payroll in the accounting department.

Before her recent appointment as interim auditor, Falstad served for the past decade as the accounting deputy in the Grant County Clerk’s office. And prior to her tenure at the courthouse, she had work experience as a teller at U.S. Bank and as a recording clerk and title assistant at Chicago Title.

“My comprehensive understanding of the auditor’s office operations is rooted in hands-on experience in all four of (its) departments,” Falstad stated in a candidate questionnaire to GCJ.news. “Over the course of thirty years with Grant County, I have developed a thorough understanding of county operations and departmental interactions.”

Falstad said she has “great working relations” with many county officials and employees, which she called “essential, as the auditor’s office works closely with every county department.”

Falstad was involved in the implementation of a new technology system that she said has improved accuracy, efficiency, and access to public records. If elected to a full term, Falstad said her goals include completing the implementation of an updated accounting system, ensuring all staff are fully cross-trained, and identifying improvements in policies and procedures to better serve both county departments and the public.

Falstad said she has been endorsed by Grant County clerk Kimberly A. Allen, former Grant County commissioner Richard Stevens, and former county licensing deputy Lori Kinzel. Currently, she is vice president and former treasurer of the Grant County Public Employees Association collective bargaining unit.

Her website can be viewed at www.falstad4auditor.com.

ANDREW KOEPPEN

Koeppen is campaigning on the slogan: “Every Penny. Every Vote. Every Record. Counts.”

“I believe government works best when it is transparent, accountable, and focused on serving the public,” he said in a candidate questionnaire. “After becoming active in Grant County and working with local organizations, I came to believe the Auditor’s Office could benefit from an even stronger focus on transparency, accountability, and public engagement.”

A county resident since 2021, Koeppen said he is a licensed real estate broker and managing director of GOAT Professional Services, which lists business, financial management, regulatory compliance, marketing, and leadership services.

Koeppen also cites a background in telecommunications systems engineering, systems analysis, and infrastructure. Politically, he served as Grant County Republican Party chair from 2023-25 and as an elected precinct committee officer since 2022.

“My career has been built on testing and verifying complex billing systems, emergency communications systems, and business processes to ensure they worked accurately and reliable before problems affected the public,” he said.

That experience, said Koeppen, qualifies him to “provide independent oversight, strengthen public confidence, and ensure the Auditor’s Office serves the people of Grant County first.”

If elected, Koeppen said he intends to implement a “10 in 100 Plan” which outlines 10 specific actions within 100 days to improve election transparency and security, financial accountability, public access to records and services, and office operations. He said a “public report” would be issued so “citizens can see what was accomplished, what was learned, and what comes next.”

Koeppen, who declined to disclose his age, also referenced civic involvement that included serving with Kiwanis and CARE Moses Lake, supporting voter registration, moderating candidate forums, organizing caucuses, helping with blood drives, and other community gatherings.

His website, including his “10 in 100 Plan,” can be viewed at www.Andrew4Auditor.com.

DARCI HOMESLEY 

Homesley, 57, a longtime Moses Lake-area resident, did not respond to a candidate questionnaire from GCJ.news. On her website and in the county voters pamphlet, Homesley said she brings 35 years of accounting and budgeting experience, decision-making and collaboration skills, and commitments to integrity, transparency, and professionalism to her candidacy for county auditor.

Homesley is currently listed as the financial services manager for the Grant County Multi-Agency Communications Center and previously worked in the county fair office handling accounting duties.

In the voters pamphlet, she referenced being elected to boards, the importance of community service, and ensuring the auditor’s office “operates efficiently while adapting to the evolving needs of the community.”

“I am the best candidate for this office because I am committed to putting people first. Not only do my roots run deep in Grant County, I will lead with honesty, respect, and dedication while always keeping the needs of the community at the center of every decision,” she stated.

If elected, Homesley said she would maintain a “strictly non-partisan approach to financial and election oversight” and implement “rigorous internal controls to prevent waste and unnecessary spending.”

Her website can be viewed at www.votedarci.org.