Kern CountyCandidate for Auditor/Controller/Clerk

I am a long time Bakersfield, CA businessman and the founder and CEO of a construction technology and consulting firm. I am not from the government. I have had profit and loss responsibility in the billion-dollar plus range and have been signing the front of checks for over 30 years. I started in the construction business as a manual laborer and worked my way up through the ranks to a Sr. VP and Division Manager prior to starting my own business. 

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Business from the Colorado State with University System and a Master's in Business from the University of Texas at Austin with a Concentration in Technology Commercialization. In addition, I hold a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt which will be very beneficial for designing and improving County processes, and the optimization of available technology. 

I spend 2 1/2 months last year leading a team of observers during the recall election. That experience compelled is one of the primary reasons I am running for this office. 

I have the education, experience, and proven leadership skills to bring a new level of efficiency and effectiveness to the office functions, measured by the customers we serve, the people of Kern County

Mark McKenzie

The Kern County Auditor-Controller-County Clerk-Registrar of Voters is a non-partisan position. The Auditor-Controller oversees the accounting/auditing and fund distribution of the County’s approximate 3-billion-dollar budget, the County Clerk is responsible for marriage licenses, notaries public, and other certifications, and the Registrar of Voters is responsible for voter registration and running elections in the county.

I am not doing this for money, power or prestige. To often we have career politicians that forget who they work for. I know what needs to be done to ensure election integrity. I am used to dealing with big numbers and complex systems in business. I am not a career bureaucrat or politician. The citizens of Kern County will be well served by my experience in the private sector, where you have to be accountable, efficient, and innovative in order to be successful.  

This office requires an honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability, and a fiscally responsible leader. Those are values that I will not forsake and behaviors I hold sacred.  I have been endorsed by California State Senator Shannon Grove, Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood, and longtime Bakersfield City Counsel woman Jaquie Sullivan.

For election process transparency and positive, dynamic, change I am your candidate. I will be honored to have your vote on June 7, 2022.

Mark McKenzie