Ryan Peterman
Public Service Agenda
The Secretary of State’s office should be built on public service. That is the standard we will set.
This office administers Iowa’s elections, safeguards important business records, holds sensitive information, and gives Iowans and local officials guidance they have to be able to rely on. Those are not small responsibilities, and they demand more than just competent administration. They demand honesty, openness, sound judgement, and a plain understanding of who the office actually works for. It works for the people of Iowa. No one else.
Public service will be at the forefront of all we do in the Office of the Secretary of State. We will protect the information Iowans entrust to us and be open about the decisions made in their name. We will work in real partnership with the local officials who run our elections. And we will answer the people we serve promptly, in every part of the state and no matter the issue.
Public Service Agenda
The Secretary of State’s office should be built on public service. That is the standard we will set.
This office administers Iowa’s elections, safeguards important business records, holds sensitive information, and gives Iowans and local officials guidance they have to be able to rely on. Those are not small responsibilities, and they demand more than just competent administration. They demand honesty, openness, sound judgement, and a plain understanding of who the office actually works for. It works for the people of Iowa. No one else.
Public service will be at the forefront of all we do in the Office of the Secretary of State. We will protect the information Iowans entrust to us and be open about the decisions made in their name. We will work in real partnership with the local officials who run our elections. And we will answer the people we serve promptly, in every part of the state and no matter the issue.
Protect Iowans’ Information
- Fight back against illegal requests, and unequivocally protect Iowans’ personal information.
- Collect and keep only the information this office genuinely needs to do its job.
- Regularly review the office’s data-retention, access, and cybersecurity practices, and fix weaknesses before they become failures.
Make Transparency the Standard Practice
- Root out government corruption that too often keeps Iowans in the dark
- Publish clear election guidance, directives, and significant policy changes online, with plain-language explanations of what they mean for voters, county officials, and businesses.
- Improve the speed and quality of public-records responses.
- Maintain regular, professional communication with the press, and correct inaccurate information clearly and promptly — including my own.
Listen to Iowans Across the State
- Visit each of Iowa’s ninety-nine counties during my term.
- Hold regular public meetings and listening sessions across the state.
- Use those meetings to explain changes, answer questions, and catch problems before they become crises.
Work in Partnership with Local Officials
- Meet regularly with county auditors throughout the year.
- Provide consistent, timely guidance to every county, to ensure our elections run as smoothly as possible.
- Coordinate with state, federal, and local partners to strengthen election security, and to protect Iowa businesses from fraud.
- Consult with local officials before implementing major administrative changes, not after.
Build an Office that Responds
- Set clear standards for responding to phone calls, emails, filings, and public inquiries, and track unresolved requests so no one is forced to start over every time they contact the office.
- Simplify forms, instructions, and website content.
- Review complaints and recurring problems.
- Publish basic performance measures, so Iowans can judge for themselves whether service is getting better.
This office exists to serve the people of Iowa. It must be worthy of their trust. It’s not complicated. You do the work. You tell people the truth. You own it when you get something wrong. That is what I will bring to it.
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