Gina Tanner, a Republican, is running for Utah County auditor in the Nov. 3 general election. She faces Hans V. Andersen of the Independent American Party.
Tanner won the Republican nomination at the Utah County convention in April 2026, clearing the threshold without a June primary, according to the DOERS Network. She entered the race after incumbent Auditor Rod Mann announced he would not seek reelection, according to Utah Politics.
The county auditor oversees budgeting, financial reporting and tax-rate calculations for Utah County.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Benjamin, Utah
- Family: Married 25 years, three children
- Education: Master's degree in accounting
- Background: Lifelong Utah County resident
Experience and public service
Tanner is the budget manager at the Utah County Auditor's Office, according to her BallotReady profile. She holds a master's degree in accounting.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Tanner's responses to a Utah Politics candidate questionnaire. They reflect the candidate's own statements.
Budget and financial management
Tanner said she helped transition the county toward a target-based budgeting model. Under that approach, commissioners determine service levels, departments receive baseline funding, and additional spending must be tied to defined services or programs. Departments are expected to find efficiencies within their own budgets rather than relying on automatic increases.
Taxes and financial safeguards
Tanner said she supports automating tax rate inputs while maintaining human oversight. She acknowledged that past errors have occurred and said she wants to strengthen review processes and documentation to prevent recurrence. She said many procedures exist informally and should be formally documented before further automation expands.
"Our focus now is on maintaining stronger safeguards to prevent similar issues in the future and to uphold public trust in our financial processes," Tanner said in her questionnaire response. She added that she would prioritize cross-training existing staff to strengthen internal knowledge and reduce reliance on any single individual.
Technology and AI
Tanner described AI as a tool to assist with documentation, workflow improvements and anomaly detection. Human judgment remains essential, she said.
Role of the auditor
Tanner characterized the auditor's office as a resource for both county departments and the public. She emphasized clear presentation of financial data and careful analysis before drawing conclusions.
Endorsements
The following endorsement was claimed by the endorsing organization:
- DOERS Network — Endorsed Tanner, citing her professional qualifications and commitment to independent audit work, according to the DOERS Network website.
