reprinted from

July 15, 2006

Candidate sounds off on auditor's office

Former state Rep. Otto running for auditor

By KRIS JANISCH

kjanisch@acnpapers.com

Otto

STILLWATER - Former state Rep. Rebecca Otto and candidate for the state auditor's job outlined her platform on Wednesday, also chastising the auditor's office for what she perceived as too many errors and misguided policies.

Pushing for lower property taxes and better accountability from the office, Otto said State Auditor Patricia Anderson has allowed too many mistakes to creep into financial reports and that Anderson has advocated cuts in local government aid, prompting property tax hikes.

"We can't keep funding things using property taxes," said Otto, a May Township resident. "We need somebody who will be there working for our communities."

A former teacher with a master's degree in education, Otto specifically referenced errors in education numbers overseen by the auditor and miscalculations on a report about Minnesota counties' finances. She also said laptop computers were stolen from the auditor's office on two separate occasions, putting Minnesotans at risk of identity theft.

"Mistakes happen," Otto said. "But it's what's done with it that shows your ability to lead."

The mistakes on a state education department report came from staffers there, Anderson said, and has since been cleared up. Although she accepted responsibility for a mistake on a financial report of Minnesota's counties, she characterized the gaffe as "a minor staff error," and just one misstep out of more than 100 reports.

"I guess I can thank (Otto) for, at a minimum, knowing that the rest of my stuff so far is perfect," Anderson said.

Regarding charges that she advocated cuts in local government aid, Anderson said the state was dealing with a severe budget crunch at the time she and suggested making cuts only to non-essential services.

"During times like that, everybody suffers the pinch," Anderson said, noting that her office saw a 15-percent cut as well.

Unsuccessful in her 2004 bid to remain the House District 52B representative, Otto, 43, previously served on the Forest Lake School Board and owned a small business for 20 years. The auditor's job typically doesn't require one to be a certified public accountant, she said, and none have been.

"It's more of a managerial position," said Otto, the DFL-endorsed candidate. "I'm used to leading. ... I'm perfectly suited" for the job.

Since Anderson was elected four years ago, dramatic changes have been made in the way her office conducts itself, the Republican said. The office now provides more public information, she said, and has better oversight of the state's financial dealings.

"I have a huge list of accomplishments," said Forest Lake native Anderson, 40, a former Eagan mayor and city councilwoman. "That's my job, to be a problem solver."

Lawmakers depend on numbers from the state auditor to be accurate, Otto said, and the office needs improved fiscal management. If elected, she said she would create more quality-control measures.

One of the first steps toward improving the state's fiscal standing, Otto said, would be speaking with different cities, discovering successful financial initiatives and applying them elsewhere.

"Our job is to strengthen communities," she said.

As a former lawmaker representing parts of the St. Croix Valley, Otto pushed for the Legislature to calculate inflation with expense projections instead of only for revenue projections. Although former Gov. Arnie Carlson and outgoing U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton served as state auditor, making it a potential steppingstone, Otto said she's focused solely on this race.

"This is public service for me," Otto said. "It's my way of giving back to the state."

Also a former business owner, Anderson, who holds a master's degree in public administration, said the auditor's race would come down to who voters "think the best watchdog will be."

"And I've been a very good watchdog," she said.

Otto's message to voters centers on the state leaning more on taxpayers for revenue.

"I'm just trying to get property taxes down and strengthen communities like Stillwater," she said.

Green Party candidate Dave Berger is also running for auditor, as is Minneapolis Police Officer Lucy Gerold on the Independence ticket.