Allen Paulson the Clearwater County Auditor-Treasurer

Al, as he is often called, went to school in Bagley, graduating in 1972. 

College took him to the University of Minnesota, where he majored in Animal Science and  Extension Service. Early in life he considered a career as a veterinarian.

When he returned to Bagley, Al became the Deputy Assessor for Clearwater County, using his skills appraising agricultural lands. 

“Agriculture, timber, and crops are very important to the way of life and the people in this area. Especially people who homesteaded in Clearwater County,” Al says. 

In 1980 Al was selected for a unique opportunity to become a MAST exchange student and travel to Australia. He was one of three from Minnesota selected to attend MAST -- Minnesota Agricultural Student Training. He lived with two host families during his year there, during which the County gave him a leave of absence from his job here. 

“My job there was to study data, farming, ranching, the climate, crops, lifestyle, and compare it to what we have here.” 

“I have Australian ‘sisters’ and their families as a result of going there. We still keep in touch.” 

When Al came back to Clearwater County, he moved into the position of Assistant Assessor, then spent 12 years as City of Bemidji Assessor, which involved more commercial property. 

He held one term as County Commissioner in the early 1990s, and at the same time was on the Board of Directors for the American Dairy Association. A job for them opened up as the Area Program Director for Minnesota, and North and South Dakota, which was too large a district for him to continue as a County Commissioner. Then he became the Program Consultant for the Minnesota Farm Bureau.

In 2002, the Clearwater County Recorder retired, and Al was appointed to the position. Then he was encouraged to run for the office and was elected for two more terms. 

When Dan Stenseng retired as Auditor, Al was elected to that position, and is in his tenth year, the last two being a combined position as Auditor-Treasurer. 

“I learned a lot by changing jobs, especially during my term as a County Commissioner. I learned more about Human Services, highways, the hospital, and Nursing Service. I got a greater understanding of the funding mandates and requirements we have to meet.”

“Every two years the election is a major project,” Al says. “It is time consuming, there are changes and new laws and regulations. We have to make sure we are doing the best we can and doing it right. There is satisfaction in compliance with the elections.” 

“In the budget process we work with the county department heads to budget for our needs, and not a lot of extras. The public has a lot of opportunities to voice any concerns.” 

“We are blessed to have really good employees, and I’m blessed with an excellent staff who knows what needs to be done – which makes it great to be in the management side.”

Al has been very involved with the County Fair, as treasurer or secretary-manager since 1976. 

“I get to meet lots of people and have fun. We think the Clearwater County Fair is the best in the area.” 

The dates August 2-6 have been set for this year’s fair. The 2016 County Fair Raffle calendar was dedicated to him.

 Because of his involvement with county fairs, Al spent 16 years with the Minnesota Federation of County Fairs, and held offices as Director and President. He was elected to the Minnesota State Fair Board where he spent 12 years working with others to enhance the Minnesota State Fair. He was elected to a life membership by the Board of Managers and Delegates to the State Agricultural Society. He serves as a chairperson, and conducts business such as input on budgeting items, and public relations opportunities for the State Fair. 

Al is very involved in the Clearwater Lutheran Church in Shevlin, and has served on their Council, holding every office except treasurer. His wife Julie and sons Levi and Erik are also involved in the church. 

Al and Julie, who have been married 28 years, enjoy time on the farm south of Shevlin where they raise cattle, horses, donkeys, ducks and chickens. 

“It’s kind of a ‘McPaulson Farm’”, he says. They enjoy the farm life, vegetable gardening, and opportunities to travel. 

“We love Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Colorado. And soon we’d like to go to Sweden.”

Julie works with first graders in “Reading Recovery” and Special Education after spending 30 years as a classroom teacher. 

Their sons were very involved with 4-H, sports and school. 

Levi is a math major at the University of Minnesota and works for Cenex Harvest States as an analyst. He was recently accepted to Carlson’s School of Management and is working on his Master’s Degree. 

Erik is a junior at the U of M, and is interested in Earth Science and Economics.

In his spare time, Al likes to study genealogy and search his Swedish and Scottish ancestry. 

“When my mom’s grandfather immigrated to the United States from Scotland, he was married in 1713 in the Old North Church in Boston 65 years before the lantern was hung there for Paul Revere,” he tells of this interesting bit of history he has learned in his studies. He also found out that the house still stands where his grandfather lived in the Smöland Province in Sweden on his grandmother’s side.

Regarding the future, “I like what I’m doing, working with the County,” Al says. “I like helping people. And the people are friendly in the community.” 

Instead of the often quoted “Murphy’s Law” which suggests that anything that can go wrong will, Al lives by the “Maxwell Law” which he believes is a much more fulfilling outlook on life:

Maxwell’s Law

Nothing is as hard as it looks; 

Everything is more rewarding than you expect; 

And if any thing can go right it will - And at the best possible moment.