The state auditor of New Mexico is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of New Mexico. Twenty-eight individuals have held the office of state auditor since statehood. The incumbent is Joseph Maestas, a Democrat.
Eligibility and term of office No person may be elected state auditor other than a United States citizen of at least 30 years of age who has resided continuously in New Mexico for five years preceding the election. The state auditor is elected to a four-year term and is able to serve up to two consecutive terms; more terms may be served after one full term has intervened.
Powers and duties The state auditor assures that the financial affairs of New Mexico's 1,200 or so local governments and state agencies are thoroughly examined and audited each year and may conduct, in whole or part, audits of any of the aforesaid public bodies at any time. Pursuant to this authority, the state auditor performs annual financial audits of public bodies or approves contracts entered into effect by public bodies with independent public accounting firms, otherwise known as "IPAs". Whenever an annual financial audit is performed by an independent public accounting firm rather than the Office of the State Auditor, staff in the Office of the State Auditor perform desk reviews of IPA audits for compliance with the Audit Rule duly promulgated by the state auditor. In addition, the state auditor conducts special investigations of fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds or resources; collects, analyzes, and visualizes state agency and local government financial data; and assists small local public bodies with satisfying their statutory financial reporting requirements. In the performance of official duties, the state auditor may administer oaths and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and records.
Functional responsibilities aside, the state auditor is an ex officio member of the State Commission of Public Records. Likewise, the state auditor is constitutionally sixth in the line of succession to the governor's office after the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House, and the attorney general.
List of state auditors #ImageNameTook officeLeft officePartyYears in office1William Sargent19121918Republican7Since the first state election was in an odd-numbered year (1911), the term lasted five years.2Edward Sargent19191920Republican23Edward Safford19211922Republican24Juan Vigil19231926Democratic45Miguel Otero III19271928Republican26Victoriano Ulibarrí19291930Republican27Arsenio Velarde19311934Democratic48José García19351938Democratic49E. D. Trujillo19391942Democratic410J. D. Hannah19431946Democratic411E. D. Trujillo19471950Democratic412Robert Castner19511954Democratic413J. D. Hannah19551957Democratic3Died in office in July 1957.14Ben Chávez19571958Republican2Appointed by Governor Mechem on August 12, 1957.15Robert Castner19591962Democratic416Alex Armijo19631966Democratic417Harold Thompson19671970Republican418Frank Olmstead19711974Democratic419Max Sánchez19751978Democratic4Resigned on April 11, 1978.20Alvino Castillo19781982Democratic5Appointed by Governor Apodaca in April 1978.21Albert Romero19831986Democratic422Harroll Adams19871990Democratic423Robert E. Vigil19911998Democratic824Domingo Martinez19992006Democratic825Hector Balderas20072014Democratic826Tim Keller20152017Democratic3Resigned on November 30, 2017.27Wayne Johnson20172019Republican1Appointed by Governor Martinez on December 1, 2017.28Brian Colón20192023Democratic429Joseph Maestas2023presentDemocratic
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References
External links State Auditor of New Mexico