The auditor of accounts of Vermont, informally referred to as "the state auditor", is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Vermont. Twenty-nine individuals have occupied the office of state auditor since statehood. The incumbent is Douglas R. Hoffer, a Democrat/Progressive. He was first elected to office in 2012.

Election and term of office The auditor of accounts is one of six constitutional officers in Vermont, elected statewide every two years. Until 1870, Vermont elected its state auditor for one-year terms. Likewise, prior to an 1883 constitutional amendment, the state auditor was chosen by a vote of the Vermont General Assembly, as was the secretary of state. Since then, these two officials have been elected statewide on a direct popular vote, alongside the governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, and attorney general.

In the event of a vacancy, the governor is empowered to appoint a successor. Vermont statutes require the governor to solicit recommendations from the political party of the individual who held the office prior to the vacancy, but the governor is empowered to appoint any qualified individual.

Powers and duties The mission of the Office of the Auditor of Accounts is to hold state government accountable by evaluating whether taxpayer funds are being used effectively and identifying strategies to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse. To this end, the state auditor conducts discretionary performance audits in accordance with Government Auditing Standards promulgated by the comptroller general of the United States, the head of the Government Accountability Office and the United States' supreme audit institution. These audits provide an independent and objective assessment of the program performance, internal controls, and legal compliance of Vermont's governmental operations.

Other responsibilities have been conferred on the Auditor's Office by law. For example, the state auditor contracts with private accounting firms to audit the financial statements of the state of Vermont as presented in its annual comprehensive financial report and to perform the statewide single audit of federal programs administered by state agencies and their subrecipients. Likewise, the state auditor investigates allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse of public resources reported to the Auditor's Office.

Notable former Vermont auditors Silas H. Hodges, Commissioner of the U.S. Patent OfficeJournal of the Patent Office Society, published by U.S. Patent Office Society, Volume 2, Number 1 (September, 1919), page 67 Frederick E. Woodbridge, member of the United States House of Representatives Franklin D. Hale, U.S. Consul in: Coaticook, Quebec; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Trinidad; and Huddersfield, England Orion M. Barber, Judge of the United States Court of Customs Appeals Horace F. Graham, Governor of Vermont Ed Flanagan, first openly LGBT person elected to a statewide constitutional office in American history

List of Vermont auditors

# Auditor Picture Term Party 1 Elisha Clark 1790–1797 No party affiliation 2 Seth Storrs 1797–1801 No party affiliation 3 Benjamin Emmons Jr. 1801–1807 No party affiliation 4 Alex Hutchinson 1807–1813 Democratic-Republican 5 Job Lyman 1813–1815 No party affiliation Alex Hutchinson 1815–1817 Democratic-Republican 7 Willis Hall Jr. 1817–1819 No party affiliation 8 Norman Williams 1819–1823 Democratic-Republican9David Pierce1823–1829Democratic-Republican1829–1835National Republican1835–1839Anti-Masonic1839–1845Whig 10 Silas H. Hodges 1845–1850 Whig 11 Frederick E. Woodbridge 1850–1853 Whig12William M. Pingry1853–1855Free Soil 1855–1860 Republican 13 Jeptha Bradley 1860–1864 Republican14Dugald Stewart 1864–1870 National Union1867–1870Republican 15 Whitman G. Ferrin 1870–1877 Republican 16 Jedd P. Ladd 1877–1879 Republican 17 E. Henry Powell 1879–1892 Republican 18 Franklin D. Hale 1892–1898 Republican 19 Orion M. Barber 1898–1902 Republican 20 Horace F. Graham 1902–1917 Republican 21 Benjamin Gates 1917–1941 Republican 22 David V. Anderson 1941–1965 Republican 23 Jay H. Gordon 1965–1969 Democratic 24 Robert T. King 1969–1970 Republican 25 Alexander V. Acebo 1970–1993 Republican 26 Edward S. Flanagan 1993–2001 Democratic 27 Elizabeth M. Ready 2001–2005 Democratic 28 Randy Brock 2005–2007 Republican29Thomas M. Salmon2007–2009Democratic 2009–2013 RepublicanElected as a Democrat in 2006 and 2008, switched to the Republican Party in 2009 and was re-elected in 2010 29 Doug Hoffer 2013–present Democratic/ProgressiveWas a member of Progressive Party, but also received and accepted nomination of Democratic Party afterward

Notes

External links Vermont State Auditor of Accounts Government of Vermont portal