Taxpayers need independent, nonpartisan, elected auditor
Today's No, 2 editorial.
A Democratic state legislator slapped with a critical report by the Republican state auditor last week quickly cried political foul.
"The unjustified conduct of OSA (Office of State Auditor) gives credence to the argument that the state auditor should be appointed and not elected to avoid political influence in connection with state audits such as what occurred in this instance," Rep. Mary McAllister, D-Cumberland, complained in a statement.
McAllister is wrong about the need to appoint the state auditor, and her counterattack against Auditor Leslie Merritt looks like an attempt to deflect attention from her own mistakes.
She is executive director of a state-funded agency in Fayetteville, Operation Sickle Cell. The audit found computer files indicating that staff time and resources were used for political work on McAllister's behalf. The real issue isn't that Merritt is playing politics but that he caught McAllister doing so with resources meant to serve her agency's clients.
McAllister nevertheless makes the point that it's easy to accuse the auditor of partisanship. When a Republican auditor gives a bad report to an agency run by Democrats, some can say he's motivated to be overly harsh. A Democratic auditor could be suspected of being too soft on fellow Democrats.
There's no good reason the auditor should carry a partisan affiliation. Judges are chosen in nonpartisan elections, and that would be a sensible policy for the auditor, too.
Appointment by the governor would be a change for the worse. A governor might prefer a weak auditor rather than one who would scrutinize his administration too closely.
The taxpayers deserve an honest accounting of state spending. They need a fair, independent, nonpartisan auditor who answers to the voters.
Comments (5)
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Well Here we go again, everytime the Democrats get caught with their hand in the cookie jar, the News and Record trots out and calls for a non-partisan election. When Republicans began to be elected as Judges, because most voters see them as being more law and order than their counterparts, here came the News and Record to call for non-partisan elections.
After running this state for over 130 years the Democrats just can't give up their corrupt power and sense of entitlement.
Don't fool yourself there are no non-partisan elections. the former State Democrat Chairman has bragged about pumping money into mayorial races to get Democrats elected in Non-Partisan races.
Come on News and Record, can't you at least be honest for once!
Posted on February 26, 2008 9:28 AM
Well Here we go again, everytime the Democrats get caught with their hand in the cookie jar, the News and Record trots out and calls for a non-partisan election. When Republicans began to be elected as Judges, because most voters see them as being more law and order than their counterparts, here came the News and Record to call for non-partisan elections.
After running this state for over 130 years the Democrats just can't give up their corrupt power and sense of entitlement.
Don't fool yourself there are no non-partisan elections. The former State Democrat Chairman has bragged about pumping money into mayorial races to get Democrats elected in Non-Partisan races.
Come on News and Record, can't you at least be honest for once!
Posted on February 26, 2008 9:28 AM
Marcus, other than the political argument, is there a reason the auditor ought to be partisan?
And, are you really so confident that Republicans are going to win so many statewide elections? Democrats still win most of the council of state offices. Personally, I'd make all of them nonpartisan. What does partisan politics have to do with agriculture, insurance, etc.?
Posted on February 27, 2008 8:17 AM
"Don't fool yourself there are no non-partisan elections. The former State Democrat Chairman has bragged about pumping money into mayorial races to get Democrats elected in Non-Partisan races."
Exactly right, Marcus.
The idea of "non partisan" Council of State offices is almost as amusing as our "non-partisan" Greensboro municipal elections.
We also need to point out the lack of organized political party endorsement hardly makes an election "non-partisan", particularly when non party branded special interest group involvement is in play in ways that are below the radar.
Posted on February 27, 2008 5:37 PM
Let me throw in another thought for you guys: The rapidly increasing number of unaffiliated voters in this state. Their new registrations are outpacing Republicans lately. Their interests are not served by partisan races for auditor, agriculture commissioner or what have you.
Partisan does make some sense in legislative bodies. In bureaucracy? I don't think so.
Posted on February 28, 2008 9:31 AM