Meet Kimberly
Building Better Systems for Stronger Communities
Kimberly Wadholm believes government should work for the people it serves.
Background
She grew up in rural Wisconsin and lived in North Dakota before moving to Indiana in 2017. Those experiences shaped her understanding of civic life in communities where government isn't abstract—it's personal. It's your neighbors, your local officials, and the systems that help communities thrive.
For the past eight years, Kimberly has worked behind the scenes helping organizations operate more effectively. Her career began in healthcare before transitioning into nonprofit operations, where she has focused on improving systems, strengthening accountability, and supporting organizations that serve the public.
In 2021, Kimberly earned her bookkeeping certificate from Ivy Tech and has continued to build her financial management expertise through hands-on experience with budgeting, financial reporting, operational processes, and organizational administration. Today, she works at the Columbus Area Arts Council, where she helps ensure strong systems support meaningful community impact.
Throughout her career, Kimberly has seen firsthand how good systems make a difference. When processes are clear, information is understandable, and operations are well-managed, organizations can better serve the people who rely on them. When systems are confusing, inefficient, or outdated, everyone feels the impact.
That's why she's running for Bartholomew County Auditor.
Kimberly believes county government should be effective, understandable, and easy to navigate. Residents shouldn't need insider knowledge to understand their tax bill, access services, or find the information they need. Government should work the way it's supposed to work—and continuously improve over time.
Her approach is grounded in curiosity, competence, and collaboration. She believes in asking questions, examining how systems function, and finding practical ways to make them better. She also believes the best solutions come from listening to residents and working together to solve problems.
Kimberly lives, works, and runs in downtown Columbus. When she's not working, you'll often find her tending to her growing collection of plants, exploring the community she loves, or finding new ways to connect people and ideas.
She is running because she believes government is not something separate from us—it is something we build together. And she believes every generation has a responsibility to leave its community better than before.
Come meet Kimberly and
be part of the conversation.
Learn about her vision for the County Auditor's office, share your experiences and concerns, and help shape a local government that is transparent, understandable, and responsive to the people it serves.
June 20 – Bartholomew County Fair, 2:00–12:00 pm
June 21 – Bartholomew County Fair, 2:00–8:00 pm
July 3 – All American Festival on Central
July 4 – Fourth of July Walking Parade and Events
August16 – Meet and Greet (Private Event), 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
September 25–27 – Hope Heritage Days
November 3 – General Election Day – See you at the polls!
Civic Beliefs
Why do we care?
Operational Values
How do I want to work.
We can solve problems.
We’ve solved hard problems before, and we can improve systems again with the right attention and effort.
People are not the problem.
When the public is frustrated, it usually reflects gaps in clarity, communication, or alignment—not a lack of intelligence or care. I take a posture of good faith in residents.
Curiosity
I don’t assume “this is just how things are.” I believe improvement starts with curiosity, listening, and a willingness to examine systems closely.
Government has a duty to make things understandable and workable for people.
We cannot force engagement or understanding, but we can build better pathways for information, feedback, and participation.
Competence
Government affects people’s daily lives. That means systems should function reliably, information should be accurate, and public work should be taken seriously.
Collaboration
No single office, background, or way of thinking has all the answers. Better decisions come from listening, cooperation, and community input.
Progress
Modernization is not about change for the sake of change. It’s about improving how government works for the people using it while respecting the work and lessons of those who came before us.