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Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector
| Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| 2012 FY Budget: | $10,321,000 |
| Term limits: | 8 years |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Oklahoma Constitution, Article VI, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
 | |
| Name: | Gary Jones |
| Officeholder Party: | Republican |
| Assumed office: | January 2011 |
| Compensation: | $114,713 |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 |
| Last election: | November 2, 2010 |
| Other Oklahoma Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Gary Jones. He was first elected in 2010 and assumed office in January of 2011.
Authority
The office of the Oklahoma State Auditor is established in Article VI, Section 1 of the Oklahoma Constitution.
Article VI, Section 1:
| A. The Executive authority of the state shall be vested in a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of Labor, Commissioner of Insurance and other officers provided by law and this Constitution, each of whom shall keep his office and public records, books and papers at the seat of government, and shall perform such duties as may be designated in this Constitution or prescribed by law.
B. The Secretary of State shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the consent of the Senate for a term of four (4) years to run concurrently with the term of the Governor. |
Qualifications
Article VI, Section 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:
| No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer or Superintendent of Public Instruction except a citizen of the United States of the age of not less than thirty-one (31) years and who shall have been ten (10) years next preceding his or her election, or appointment, a qualified elector of this state. |
In addition, Article 6, Section 19 stipulates that the auditor must have at least three years experience as an expert accountant.
- a citizen of the United States.
- at least 31 years old.
- a qualified elector of Oklahoma for the 10 preceding years.
- 3 years experience as an expert accountant
Elections
The Oklahoma State Auditor is elected every years, in mid-term elections. The position is elected in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018.
On March 14, 2011, the Oklahoma State Senate approved a bill that would give the governor the power to appoint 7 of the 11 statewide elected officials, including the auditor. The Senate would have to confirm all appointments. Voters will decide whether to approve the measure.[1]
Term limits
No person may serve as the Oklahoma auditor for more than 8 years, excluding years served for less than a full term to fill a vacancy in the office.[2]
Vacancies
Under Article 6, Section 13 of the state constitution, in the event of a vacancy in the office the governor appoints a person to serve until a successor is either elected or appointed and qualified by law.
Duties
The mission of the Oklahoma state auditor is to "independently serve the citizens of Oklahoma by promoting accountability and fiscal integrity in state and local government."[3] The specific duties of the auditor are outlined in the constitution:
- examine the state and all county treasurer's books, accounts and cash on hand or in bank at least twice a year
- publish a report once each year with the results of those examinations
- prescribe a uniform system of bookkeeping for the use of all treasurers
Divisions
- Administrative Division
- Local Government and Special Services
- Gaming & Horse Racing
- Information Services
- Management Services
- Minerals Management
- Quality Assurance
- State Agency Division
- Training/CPE
State budget
The budget for the Auditor and Inspectors Office in Fiscal Year 2012 was $10,321,000.[4]
Compensation
In 2010, the Oklahoma Auditor was paid an estimated $114,713 according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
Former officeholders
Summary of past officeholders. Since 1907, Oklahoma has had 11 auditors. Of the 11, 2 were Republican and 9 were Democrat.
Click "show" for former officeholders.
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles A. Taylor | 1907 | 1912 | Democrat |
| 2 | Fred Parkinson | 1912 | 1923 | Democrat |
| 3 | George J. Mechling | 1923 | 1927 | Democrat |
| 4 | John Rogers | 1927 | 1946 | Democrat |
| 5 | Charles G. Morris | 1946 | 1954 | Democrat |
| 6 | Scott Burson | 1954 | 1959 | Democrat |
| 7 | John M. Rogers | 1959 | 1979 | Democrat |
| 8 | Tom Daxon | 1979 | 1983 | Republican |
| 9 | Clifton Scott | 1983 | 2003 | Democrat |
| 10 | Jeff McMahan | 2003 | 2008 | Democrat |
| 11 | Steve Burrage | 2008 | 2011 | Democrat |
| 12 | Gary Jones | 2011 | Present | Republican |
Contact information
Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector
State Capitol, Room 100
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Phone: 405-521-3495
Fax: 405-521-3426
E-mail: Webmaster
See also
External links
References
- ↑ KFOR, "Okla voters could decide to expand governor's power to appoint current elected officials," March 14, 2011
- ↑ Article 6, Section 4, Oklahoma Constitution
- ↑ Sai.state.OK.us, "Agency mission," accessed September 27, 2011
- ↑ Office of Management and Enterprise Services, "FY-2014 Executive Budget Historical Document," accessed April 11, 2013
- ↑ The Council of State Governments,"The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," retrieved May 14, 2011
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