Black Hawk County Auditor

Karen Showalter

I am honored to serve as the newly elected County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections for Black Hawk County, Iowa. With nearly nine years of experience in the County Auditor’s office as Elections Manager, I bring a deep understanding of both election administration and the evolving landscape of election law, including the interpretation of code and the implementation of legislative changes. Throughout my career, I have worked to ensure that elections are conducted with integrity and transparency.

I became a Certified Elections Administrator (CERA) in 2021 and have been an active participant in the State Elections Administrators Training (SEAT) program since 2017. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of serving on the SEAT Curriculum Committee and was recently elected to the SEAT Board in 2025, where I was honored to be selected as Board Chair. These experiences have further enhanced my ability to collaborate with colleagues across the state and share best practices in election management.

In addition to my professional background, I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Political Communication and a Master’s degree in Non-Profit Management, both from the University of Northern Iowa. My academic training has provided a solid foundation for my work in both elections and county administration.

I’m excited to bring this combination of experience, training, and leadership to my role as County Auditor, and I look forward to collaborating with my fellow auditors and election officials across Iowa to continue advancing the work we do for our counties and communities.

Outside of my professional life, I live in Cedar Falls with my husband, Mark, and our two Labs, Roxy and Maya Bacon. I’m passionate about my hobbies, including following the Chicago Cubs, supporting UNI Wrestling, kayaking, boating, and traveling.

I look forward to working alongside all of you as we continue to serve our counties and constituents.