Although there is room for improvement, Democrat Patrice “Pat” McCarthy has earned a third term as state auditor. The Columbian’s Editorial Board recommends a vote for McCarthy in the November election.
As always, this is merely a recommendation, designed to provide information and foster discussion. The Columbian suggests that voters study the candidates and the issues before making an informed decision.
As auditor, McCarthy has improved transparency and efficiency in her department’s role of overseeing the finances of governments throughout Washington. The online Financial Intelligence Tool, for example, provides a quick glance at approximately 2,300 government bodies, providing public information about revenue and expenditures.
During an interview with the Editorial Board, McCarthy stressed Washington’s forward-thinking approach to auditing and the national respect her office has earned: “We are considered a leader on many fronts. This is noble work.” She is president-elect of the National Association of State Auditors.
McCarthy has served eight years as state auditor, following five years as Pierce County auditor and eight years as Pierce County executive. Some voters view government experience as a bug rather than a feature, but in truth it is valuable to ensuring that elected officials effectively serve the public. Overseeing a state agency that includes 480 officers throughout the state and conducts some 3,000 audits a year requires administrative experience.
McCarthy’s office is tasked with performing financial audits of local governments ranging from cemetery districts to county boards. It also conducts performance audits to assess efficiency, a provision of Initiative 900 passed by voters in 2005, and it conducts investigations into reports of fraud and whistleblower complaints.
Equally important, the auditor’s office must conduct these functions with the utmost transparency to ensure public confidence.
That is where challenger Matt Hawkins, a Republican, takes issue with McCarthy’s performance.
“We’re growing into a lack of transparency between us and our government,” Hawkins said during a phone interview with The Columbian. “When I read an audit, I read them with a jaundiced view.”
Among his concerns, Hawkins warns that Washington elections are not trustworthy. But elections fall under the purview of the secretary of state.
He also recommends the auditor’s office for improving education and reducing homelessness. “Good audits will identify what are solutions,” he said. Among the priorities listed on his campaign website are parental and family rights “to restore these God-given rights so that children and families can enjoy positive mental, physical and social health.”
Indeed, there is room for complaints about McCarthy’s performance. In 2021, while investigating pandemic fraud that cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars, the auditor’s office suffered a data breach that exposed the files of 1.6 million residents.
But McCarthy’s experience and management skills suggest that she is the best candidate to respond to modern threats. The Editorial Board recommends that Pat McCarthy be reelected.
