Lake County Recorder Gina Pimentel will run for Lake County Auditor in 2026, she recently announced.

Pimentel, 38, said she can’t run for reelection as recorder because of term limits. As she thought about her career, Pimentel said running for auditor seemed like a strong next step because the auditor’s office and the recorder’s office work together, like during the property transfer process.

“I think this is a good next step,” Pimentel said. “I am an in-person, hands-on elected official and office holder that has the county’s best interest in mind.”

In addition to Pimentel’s candidacy, Lake County Democratic Chairman Mike Repay said current auditor Peggy Holinga Katona is seeking reelection. In the primary election, Repay said the party will remain neutral on candidates.

Lake County Treasurer John Petalas, who has served as auditor in the past, said he is seeking reelection as treasurer. He declined to comment on the auditor’s race.

If elected, Pimentel said she would focus on retraining employees in the deductions department to ensure people qualifying for a homestead, over the age of 65, disabled and disabled veterans receive the proper deductions.

Pimentel said she would take the training with the employees, if elected auditor. Given that deductions are the top reason residents visit the auditor’s office, Pimentel said employee retraining on the matter would benefit the office.

Further, Pimentel said she would also like to bring back an in-person tax sale process to prevent fraud and increase the collection rate. While doing the tax sale online was efficient during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s a good time to start an in-person process, she said.

“That’s something that I would like to play more offense not defense,” Pimentel said. “There are ways for improvement and there are ways to avoid certain things that do happen in the tax sale.”

Pimentel was elected recorder in 2020 after serving 5 years as chief deputy recorder under previous Lake County Recorder Michael Brown, who left office after he and some of his staff were subpoenaed in front of the Lake County Council to answer questions about his absenteeism for 18 months.

As recorder, Pimentel said she’s most proud of how efficient the office has become. The office has focused on digitizing, imaging and scanning various records and documents, she said.

“We’ve really utilized the money that my office makes without using taxpayer money to further enhance the office in every which way,” Pimentel said.

While she’s enjoyed being recorder, Pimentel said she looks forward to running for auditor to continue to serve Lake County residents.

“I love what I do. I’m happy to be at the county. I’m proud to be an elected official, and it’s something that I want to continue because I’m just starting out,” Pimentel said.

akukulka@post-trib.com