From The Charleston Gazette-Mail – Daily Mail editorial page:
Through the state’s financial turmoil, most eyes have been on the Legislature and governor’s office as they attempt to work with shortfalls in tax collections and an oversized government to balance the state’s budget and plan for the future.
But perhaps taxpayers should more closely scrutinize the state auditor’s and treasurer’s offices. After all, they’re the ones who monitor the state’s debt and audit governments and agencies to ensure they spend money properly. Those aren’t easy jobs, and both offices have other duties as well.
Longtime Treasurer John Perdue, a Democrat, has done an admirable job as the state’s chief financial officer. He’s implemented the SMART529 college savings program, which allows parents to invest in their children’s futures. A 457 plan provides a supplemental retirement plan for employees of local government, and the unclaimed property program that returns money and other items to state residents has proven to be very popular.
But Republican challenger Ann Urling earns the Daily Mail’s endorsement. Urling has been a community banker for 30 years and would bring a fresh perspective — and a wealth of knowledge — to the office.
Increasing transparency would be her No. 1 priority. “State taxpayers deserve to [be able to] open up and look at income and expenses,” she told Gazette-Mail editors.
She plans to maintain the agency’s current programs, saying her three children all benefited from the SMART529 program. But she would also conduct an internal audit of the office to find inefficiencies and identify other changes.
After 20 years in office, it might be difficult for Perdue to identify needed changes within the agency. Urling’s banking background gives her an advantage and prepares her well for the position of state treasurer.
The state auditor has the not-so-easy tasks of acting as the state’s bookkeeper, conducting audits and inspecting the balance sheets, among other things.
That’s a full-time job, and one Republican candidate Delegate JB McCuskey seems committed to.
He, too, is a proponent of transparency. He met last month with Ohio Auditor Josh Mandel to learn more about that state’s transparency website, which McCuskey said he’d like to implement here. McCuskey says the website, which allows the public to view state transactions, has improved Ohio’s transparency and bond ratings.
Though he is a lawyer and not an accountant, McCuskey seemingly has a firm grasp on the functions of the office and promises to bring ethics and integrity.
Democrat Mary Ann Claytor, a 20-year employee of the auditor’s office, offers vast institutional knowledge. However, we fear her history with the office would cause the agency to maintain the status quo. McCuskey offers something different, and that’s why he earns our endorsement.