Marshall County Auditor

Nan Benson

Nan Benson is the appointed Marshall County Auditor and Recorder, Commissioner of Elections
as of October 31, 2017, and has since been elected in 2018, 2020, and 2024, only 2020 was
without an opponent. She and her husband, Jay, live in rural State Center, just north of the
Marshall County Sherriff’s Office where they have a farming operation. Their three adult
children are all married living in Lincoln, NE, Waukee, and Altoona. She graduated from Central
College with a degree in Accounting, and minors in Math/Computer Science and Business, and
later passed the CPA exam.

Her involvement in the community includes the United Way Campaign Cabinet and former
Board Member, Iowa River Hospice Board, Phyllis Perry Hulton Scholarship Trustee, and West
Marshall Community Schools Association Board.

When she began her new post in October 2017, she was busy learning about her great staff in
the Auditor/Recorders Office, including Elections, Valuations, Real Estate, County Budgeting,
County Policies, Vital Records, etc. Then on July 19, 2018, downtown Marshalltown was hit by
an EF3 Tornado. The Courthouse was damaged as well as other County facilities; the total
project between insurance and Marshall County was around $43 million, we returned to our
remodeled office space in May 2023. We have all had a challenge with COVID which gave us
ARPA money which we are still working with. Also, many in Iowa also had the Derecho on
August 10, 2020. We are still working on one project from that and yes, Marshall County is the
reason the Governor had to extend the Disaster Proclamation. It would be an understatement to
say that I have learned a lot in my just over 7 years in County Government. I feel very fortunate
that I had all the other experiences that I could utilize to prepare me for this thing we call being a
County Auditor. This group is the best group of folks I have worked with and would do anything
to assist you with questions, you just do not get that in any other industry.