VOTER GUIDE Minnesota State Auditor Four candidates are running for the office of Minnesota’s state auditor. Incumbent Rebecca Otto is not seeking re-election. Candidate Michael Ford did not respond to a request for participation. Candidate answers are in their own words and unchanged. Explain your approach on balancing training local offi- Does Minnesota still need Are local government cials to do a good job keep- a state auditor, at least one audits conducted by private ing financial records and elected on a partisan tick- firms as good as ones the the need for the auditor’s Should audits be limited Should the auditor’s et? Many people have said auditor’s office conducts? office to strictly enforce to finances or expanded role be expanded to exam- it should be removed from Should private audits be laws and accepted account- to include how successful ine state books instead of *denotes incumbent politics. allowed? ing principles. programs and policies are? just local governments? Julie Blaha (DFL) An elected auditor is direct- An audit is most trustworthy As a math teacher, I know A full investigation includes The state auditor over- Age: 48 ly accountable to Minneso- when no money changes what it means to both accu- analyzing results. While the sees over $20 billion in local Occupation: tans, not a political party. In hands between an auditor rately assess performance office’s Audit Division focus- spending - that deserves top Math Teacher; this time of fake news and and the municipality. I will and increase success. The es on finances, its Report- attention. When politicians Labor Leader attacks on those who tell the advocate for an office that most effective way to help ing Division can provide a in Washington DC or at the Website: truth in government, an elect- can provide periodic audits local officials succeed is to wider look including analysis state level can’t agree, we blahafor ed auditor is essential to pre- free of charge. This approach provide complete, honest of the return on investment turn to our local govern- auditor.org serve accountability, integrity, would provide a check on pri- feedback. Enforcing laws of a program or policy. Com- ments. As auditor, I will give Facebook: and transparency. I will be an vate audits, while freeing up and best practices will also paring results to costs helps my undivided attention to Blaha https://www. unbiased and trusted partner. local funding when the state increase local officials’ suc- local officials make better supporting Minnesotans facebook.com/ completes the audit. cess and effectiveness. decisions. solving problems close to BlahaForAuditor/ home. Twitter: https://twitter.com/ BlahaForAuditor Family: Julie’s Husband is Roger, they have two sons and three Grandkids ...with another on the way! Chris Dock (Lib) The position of State Audi- I support the usage of inde- It is crucial that local offi- My plan is to implement Currently the state books Age: 52 tor should not be a political pendent auditors whenever cials keep accurate and trans- a Report Card system that are audited by the Legis- Occupation: position. As State Auditor, that provides a more thor- parent financial records. The will enable taxpayers to lative Auditor, who is an Investment my responsibility would be ough and cost-effective option Auditor’s office should not easily understand how their appointee rather than an Consultant to provide fiduciary oversight in comparison to the State only be reviewing the financial local government is perform- independent, elected offi- Website: of government operations on Auditor’s office. Increasing data and adherence to rules ing compared to benchmark cial. We need more inde- www.chrisdock behalf of the people, not to options and competition cre- and regulations, but should data. It’s one thing to know pendence in this role; the forauditor.org represent any political party. ates the opportunity for higher review processes as well to what was spent on any given Auditor of the State should Facebook: The ideal candidate should be quality and lower cost ser- ensure financial operations aspect of government, it’s not be appointed by those Dock www. independent of those being vices to be available in the are handled as efficiently as another to know whether that he/she is auditing. facebook.com/ audited. marketplace. possible. expenditure was efficient. cd4auditor/ Twitter: NA Family: NA Pam Myhra (R) Yes, Minnesotans need 2018 MN Supreme Court The State Auditor’s Office I believe the public would Yes, since the Legislative Age: 61 a State Auditor elected and affirmed 2015 law passed by should not be doing both con- be better served if the State Auditor is at the directive Occupation: accountable to them alone. Dem controlled Senate and sulting/educating and audit- Auditor’s Office was expand- of the State Legislature, CPA, The Legislative Auditor serves Rep House and signed into ing since these are conflicting ed to include performance (part of state government), Republican at the directive of the Legis- law by Dem governor to allow roles, challenging the audi- reviews of the effectiveness state government agencies Endorsed lature and therefore can be counties same choice cities tor’s independence and objec- of programs and policies. should be audited by the Candidate influence by the political Party have, to engage a private tivity according to Generally independent state Constitu- for MN State in power. Minnesotans need accounting firm to do their Accepted Government Audit- tional Office of State Auditor Auditor an independent State Auditor audit. The choice allows for ing Standards. which is at the directive of Myhra Website: answerable to them. greater local control to better the people and accountable pamfor serves public interest. to them alone. auditor.com Facebook: @pamforauditor Twitter: @pamforauditor Family: Husband, Chuck, of 37 years and three adult children.
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