Continuing our coverage of Vermont’s statewide races, this month we bring you candidates for Auditor of Accounts and Secretary of State. Lest you be tempted to wonder at the importance of these particular races, remember that incumbent Governor Jim Douglas previously served as Secretary of State. What is more, recent elections from Florida to Ohio have demonstrated the potential impact – for good and for ill – of state Secretaries of State beyond their own border. Vermont Woman invited all candidates for these two offices to submit short personal statements on why they deserve your vote. We have printed all the responses received below for your consideration as you head to the polls.
Auditor of Accounts
Randy Brock
(R-Swanton)
This year, the State of Vermont will spend about $4 billion. Watching over that spending – making sure you get what you pay for – is my job.
During these past two years, we’ve transformed the Auditor’s Office into a modern, efficient, non-partisan organization. We have a new sense of urgency, and for the first time in years, we’ve finished Vermont’s financial audit on time.
We’ve found thousands of dollars in waste, fraud and error, and identified millions in potential savings. Today, we have five times the number of CPA’s, and with my background as a Certified Fraud Examiner, we’re going after the kind of fraud – as in Medicaid – that eats away at our taxes.
I’ve tackled tough issues, like Homeland Security, Regional Technical Centers, business expansion tax credits, computer systems controls and improving veterans’ care.
We’ve unmasked a corrupt sheriff who stole taxpayer funds for everything from Florida vacations to pet supplies and lingerie. We found town officials who falsified Federal grant applications. We discovered a $54,000 mistake on an invoice the state paid.
We’re working with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, the Vermont Sheriff’s Association, auditors at other agencies, accounting firms, the public and the Legislature to help shape – as partners – how financial oversight at various levels of government should work best.
As the only candidate for auditor who actually has years of experience as an auditor, I want to continue to pursue my Agenda of Accountability. Keeping state government accountable to every Vermonter will continue to be my top priority.
www.randybrock.com
Thomas M. Salmon
(D-Rockingham)
I am running for State Auditor for three reasons.
1) I am fully committed to serving Vermonters after experiencing, firsthand, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as a Naval Reservist.
2) Vermont needs a Certified Public Accountant that has been an auditor in charge of the Auditor’s office, given the state’s financial complexity, to prevent and solve problems, not just report them.
3) To increase financial communication. From State Street to Main Street to School Street, confusion is costing us Vermonters millions. As a Selectboard member in a town coming through a financial recovery, I have the needed skills and experience. I also have direct experience in social services, education, real estate, job training, transportation and sales that enhance my ability to get people to work together for a common goal - financial stability.
Thank you for your vote.
www.salmonforauditor.com
Also running:
Martha Abbott
(Progressive-Underhill);
Jerry Levy
(Liberty Union-Brattleboro)
Secretary of State
Deb Markowitz
(D-Montpelier)
It has been an honor to serve as Vermont’s Secretary of State.
During the past eight years I have worked hard to make government work for Vermonters. Vermont is more business-friendly because of our state of the art Web site that makes available everything needed to start or expand a business.
We implemented an ambitious election reform agenda that included widespread voter education and outreach programs. The results of these programs are impressive: In the 2004 elections, Vermont had a near-record voter turnout (64 percent), with 20 percent of the voters exercising their right to vote early or by mail.
We work hard to protect consumers of professional services and we eliminated the backlog of professional licensing complaints so that we can now quickly and effectively remove from practice professionals who are incompetent or unethical.
We produce innovative civics materials to help teach our kids the importance of participating in our democracy, and we are expanding Vermont’s State Archives program so that we can ensure that Vermont’s government is transparent and accountable into the future. And we have become the place that citizens and local officials come to for help as they navigate our laws and regulations.
Because I know how important it is for women to serve in elective office, I founded the Women’s Leadership Initiative, a program that encourages women to get involved in public service.
I am running for reelection so that we can continue to make the Secretary of State’s Office work for you.
www.debforvermont.com
Cheryl Moomey
(R-Moretown)
I’m happy to respond to Vermont Woman’s request to tell its readers a little about myself and why I’m running for Secretary of State. It certainly says something about the status of women in our state that the two major candidates for this statewide office are women!
In my five years service as Town Clerk and Treasurer in Essex (the second largest municipality in Vermont), I have worked firsthand in the local administration of elections and the maintenance of public records for the town. Working with our local officials is probably the most important function of the Secretary of State.
Along with responsibilities for many professional boards, business licensing and registrations as well as the state archives, the staff at the Redstone Building in Montpelier has enough to do without the Secretary herself advancing proposals that make it harder to maintain our democratic institutions.
This is the major reason I entered the race. I feel that the Office of the Secretary of State needs to return to its constitutional mandate, and not be an agency of partisanship. The office should be administrative, not political.
I hope you will visit my website to find out more and that you will get to the polls come November and choose me to be your Secretary of State…a Secretary for the People.
www.cherylmoomey.com
Also running:
Boots Wardinski
(Liberty Union-South Ryegate)
