In the race for Auditor of Public Accounts Adam Edelen has our endorsement.
Edelen's background in both the public and private sectors provides a range of experience that should serve him well in this important position. As a former top aide to Gov. Steve Beshear, he knows how state government works, knowledge that's critical to the office charged with telling us if our government is doing its work as it should.
Increasingly, government services are outsourced and here Edelen's background in the for-profit world should also be helpful.
His opponent, Republican John T. Kemper III, is a developer with no government experience. As a candidate he's talked about many hot-button social issues outside the purview of the auditor's office and has failed to convince that he fully understands the responsibilities of the job.
Edelen does come with baggage. His business and personal relationship with a top lobbyist while he worked in the governor's office, and his role in securing a state job for another business associate both got a pass from the Executive Branch Ethics Commission but raised questions about Edelen's judgment and independence. He says he has learned from those missteps.
Edelen has far out-raised Kemper in this campaign and seems likely to succeed outgoing auditor Crit Luallen, who has set a very high bar for future auditors.
We hope that he will use his intelligence, energy and experience to serve Kentucky and work very hard to avoid even the appearance of ethical conflicts.
