INCREASE TRANSPARENCY & OVERSIGHT

Update Confidentiality Laws - The Arizona Auditor General serves as the public’s watchdog, ensuring that government operations are conducted with transparency, accountability, and in the best interest of the people. However, under the current legal framework, draft reports, working papers, and audit files are exempt from public records laws. These exemptions can prevent critical information about performance or financial failures from reaching the public. I will work to repeal these statutory exemptions that allow such information to remain unpublished and shielded from public scrutiny. Taxpayers deserve full transparency, and government agencies must be held accountable. Open access to audit findings, at every stage, strengthens public trust and drives meaningful reform.

AUDIT REFORM - Arizona’s current audit process for state agencies is outdated, infrequent, and ultimately ineffective. Under the existing “Sunset” process, the Auditor General conducts performance and financial reviews of agencies every four to eight years, with findings submitted to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. However, a simple review of follow-up reports reveals a troubling pattern: many recommendations remain unimplemented for years, highlighting a lack of sustained accountability and follow-through. It is time to modernize this process. I propose placing Auditor General staff directly within state agencies to enable continuous monitoring rather than relying on infrequent reviews. Embedding auditors within agencies would allow for real-time oversight, earlier detection of issues, and a stronger understanding of day-to-day operations. This ongoing presence would lead to more effective, detailed, and timely audits, ensuring that recommendations are not only made but also implemented. By modernizing the audit process, we can improve government performance, increase public transparency, and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly.