OTTUMWA — The way Michael Mauro sees it, the 2000 presidential election was a blessing and a curse.

The vote, particularly the disputed ballots in Florida, put a spotlight on the election process like few events ever have. The spotlight showed both the problems that can crop up in an election and just how remarkable it is that there aren’t more fiascoes.

Fast-forward to November 2004. Mauro is still the Polk County Auditor. This time the spotlight is on him. The Justice Department sends election night observers. So do the Bush and Kerry campaigns. It’s nice to have the attention, but more people staring over your shoulder never makes the job easier.

Now Mauro wants to oversee more than Iowa’s largest county. He wants to run the Iowa elections as secretary of state. It’s not a high-profile job most times, but Mauro says you’d be hard pressed to find a more important one on election night.

“I want it because it’s an important office because it deals with the elections. The election process is one of the most important things we do,” Mauro said. “It’s important to me that voting is easy, it’s accessible and it’s promoted. I have a passion for the job. The big difference between me and my opponent is I want the job.”

Mauro, the Democratic nominee, said Republicans like to frame the voting discussion as defense of safety, security and the integrity of the vote. He agrees those are critical elements, but says he and Republicans differ on how to protect them. Republicans, Mauro says, like to restrict the vote. He wants to make it easier.

Vote fraud is rare, Mauro says. But when it happens those who try to stuff the ballot box or cast votes illegally must be punished.

“You’ve got to make the penalties severe and tough,” said Mauro. He doesn’t think many people will risk prison time over vote fraud if the penalties are stiff.

Political pundits often spar over whether it is more important to have an educated electorate or a large electorate. Mauro prefers both. But if only one is an option, he wants to err on the side of a larger electorate. He figures that there’s no guarantee that people are paying attention to the issues if voting is restricted, so opening it up to all legal voters is more important. Besides, restrictions have been misused in the past. That’s why poll taxes and similar measures are banned.

The secretary of state’s office goes further than election night. It also keeps records, particularly for non-profit organizations. Mauro wants to maintain that role and forge a close working relationship between the secretary of state, state auditor and the attorney general to keep tabs on non-profit groups. He thinks such an arrangement will help prevent CIETEC-like scandals and keep those that do happen small.

Mauro speaks quickly, with a rapid-fire series of opinions and anecdotes. He’s animated. He leans into his comments.

“I have a passion for this job. I don’t want to be governor. I don’t want to be a congressman. I don’t want to be a senator,” he says. “I want to be secretary of state.”

Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com.