MASON CITY – Cerro Gordo Auditor Adam Wedmore used a machine in the courthouse to stamp 1000 pieces of campaign mail and got caught, but because he claims he was going to reimburse the taxpayers, won’t face any charges, state officials say.
According to a decision from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office:
On January 27, 2024, at approximately 5:30 p.m. Cerro Gordo County Auditor Adam Wedmore entered the Auditor’s Office located at the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse. He was with his family and appeared to be carrying several boxes that were later determined to contain 1,000 pieces of mail related to his reelection campaign for auditor. While in the Auditor’s Office, Wedmore utilized a Pitney Bowes mail machine to stamp the pieces of campaign mail. Any mail charge associated with the machine would have necessarily been incurred by Cerro Gordo County. The stamped envelopes were subsequently mailed. On Friday, February 2, 2024, Wedmore sent an email to his finance director stating that he had used the mail machine for non-county purposes and that he intended to reimburse the county for the postage used in the mail machine in the auditor’s office. Wedmore’s intent is confirmed by a receipt for a replacement ink cartridge purchased by him on the same day. The email sent by Wedmore indicating his intent to pay for the postage and use of the mail machine was shortly after he had been notified that a county supervisor inquired about the use of the mail machine. On Monday, February 5, 2024, Wedmore provided a check to the auditor’s office finance director that was drawn on his election account in the amount of $650. A note attached to the check indicated that the amount was for a reimbursement payment to Cerro Gordo County for the mail cost, replacement of the ink used to stamp the mail, and any electricity used for the operation of the machine. In an interview with law enforcement, Wedmore later acknowledged that he should not have used the machine but had always intended to reimburse the county with the amount of the postage. The explanation he provided for his delay in making payment was due to his schedule and absence from the office in the interim period. There was no damage to the machine and no other official use of the machine was interfered with by Wedmore’s actions. From the review of the investigation there appears to be no financial or property loss incurred by Cerro Gordo County.
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