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Petition says auditor ran up fees on Monona County credit card

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December 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A petition seeking the removal from office of the Monona County Auditor alleges she ran up nearly $8,000 in unpaid personal charges and late fees on her county credit card. According to the Omaha World-Herald, 28-year old Auditor Brooke Kuhlmann allegedly used the credit card for a concert and casino charges, expenditures at convenience stores, iTunes, Walmart, McDonald’s and Dairy Queen. The charges were racked-up between June 26, 2012, and July 25, 2013.

The allegations against Brooke Kuhlmann are among several in a document, recently filed by the Monona County Attorney’s Office, that requests a judge to remove her from office. Kuhlmann also faces drug-related charges after getting arrested July 29th. The arrest took place after she allegedly contacted a drug dealer’s cellphone in an attempt to make a buy. She didn’t realize that the person with whom she was speaking was a state trooper — the phone had been seized in a traffic stop. Methamphetamine was left for her in an arranged location. According to authorities, law enforcement officers watched her pick it up, and then Onawa police pulled her over.

Kuhlmann has pleaded not guilty to charges of methamphetamine possession, a serious misdemeanor, and possessing drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor. Hertrial is set to take place in February. The World-Herald says the petition claims Kuhlmann has not appeared for a full day’s work since then. Kuhlmann previously told paper that she is working from home.

State law does not dictate how often a county auditor should be at work. Following the petition, a district court hearing will need to be held, with a judge having the final say if Kuhlmann can be removed from office.