As the election draws nearer, voters are eager for more details about their candidates’ plans and visions. I have put much thought into my plans for the Office of North Carolina State Auditor and they are outlined below.

 

I will be the people's full-time financial watchdog.

 

The State Auditor is a full-time job and then some. I will not engage in any part-time consulting or CPA practice that would distract me from my position as the taxpayers’ eyes and ears for how their tax dollars are being spent. Indeed, if I had that kind of time, it would imply that I was not giving the Auditor’s job my sufficient attention. I will devote my time and efforts into improving the performance of the Auditor’s Office so that it benefits all of us who work so hard for our money.

 

I will restore the previous high standards to the State Auditor's Office.

• The Office will adhere to the duties for which it was created, and will no longer be used to promote political agendas. 
• The work performed by the Office will be objective and independent of political or personal agendas. 
• Employment will not be based on political favors but on knowledge, skills and experience. 
• With my background and credentials and those of the very talented managers already employed, I will not need to employ a governmental consultant to show me how to do my job as State Auditor. 

While many of these items may seem self-evident, based on recent activity within the Office, I feel it necessary to emphasize their importance.

 

I pledge to work more closely with the General Assembly to provide them with information that will help them do their job and to help them meet the mandate from North Carolina citizens for more accountability on how their tax dollars are spent.

• The State Auditor's Office should be a part of a new legislator's orientation. Our function would be to show them around the office and make them understand the Auditor's role in helping them do their job. 
• I propose that The Office provide training to legislators regarding findings that affect current situations and findings that have a more proactive impact. 
• I propose that The Office conduct exit conferences with legislators regarding audits performed on individual agencies and do a better job of explaining the consequences of the findings in our audits. 
• The Office will supply information regarding findings of state agencies to the appropriations committee before they begin their budget process. 

I propose a comprehensive training program for auditors at all levels within the Office.

 

Universities and colleges do not prepare auditors for the work they will do in the Auditor’s Office. The training received in college provides them with fundamental training but not specifically governmental accounting and governmental auditing. I plan to develop a thorough curriculum that will offer training that must be mastered before promotions to the next level.

 

I pledge to develop a succession plan to address the void that will occur in 4 years when a significant number of managers will be eligible for retirement.

 

The Office stands to lose 150 years of valuable audit experience at that point. I will create a succession plan that will account for training for supervisors to be able to step up and become effective managers and for current audit staff to be able to step up and become effective supervisors.

 

I pledge to bring strong leadership back to the Office and re-engage a cohesive work force.

• Currently, spokespersons consist of everyone in the Office except the actual State Auditor. 
• I will be fully informed on all issues, audits and situations so that I can personally address them with appropriate, knowledgeable responses. I will not appoint others to speak for me when I am fully capable of doing so myself. 
• I will be engaged with my audit staff and will maintain a transparency in the workforce so that everyone knows the goals and objectives of the Office and senior management. This transparency will enhance the comfort level of the staff and will ensure we are all moving in the right direction and will result in a minimum of surprises.