With two good choices for Kentucky auditor, this person will be the best watchdog | Opinion
.png "The Herald-Leader endorses Republican Allison Ball (left) as the auditor of public accounts. She’s running against Democrat Kim Reeder in the Nov. 7, 2023, general election.")
Kentucky is lucky in the caliber of people it has running for a very important job.
The State Auditor of Public Accounts provides oversight and accountability of our local and state governments, making sure that officials are doing what they’re supposed to with our tax dollars. Both Treasurer Allison Ball and tax attorney Kim Reeder are energetic and well-qualified for the job.
But Ball has done a good job in two terms as treasurer, and with her intricate knowledge of state government, we believe she deserves a chance to serve as Kentucky’s auditor.
We disagree with Ball, a conservative Republican, on such issues as abortion and guns. If she were running for the legislature, we would be concerned. But issues are not paramount in the auditor’s office, and should not be used as purity tests for every seat.
In a red state, we want to encourage Republicans like Ball — who rejects election denialism — to continue with a more pragmatic, more sensible brand of politics.
“This role has to be non-partisan,” she said in a meeting with the editorial board. “You have to follow the data and you have to do it in the right way. I was a prosecutor for four years, and you have to treat everyone fairly and treat everyone the same way.”
We will hold her to those words.
But we are also impressed by her actions as treasurer, including a new website on state spending, pushing a new law that requires high school students to complete a financial literacy course, sending unclaimed property back to taxpayers and the creation of the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission. She also noticed that one of the state’s tornado relief funds had sent money to people who were not tornado victims.
The auditor’s role is crucial; every year they find offices big and small where financial practices are not passing muster.
We would also like to see a return to the days of Auditors Crit Luallen and Adam Edelen, who often did special investigations into quasi-governmental organizations that receive state dollars, such as the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties. Those were politically dangerous enemies to make, but their misdeeds needed an auditor’s eye.
As a former prosecutor, Bell is certainly well qualified to take such investigations on, and has an experienced staff in the auditor’s office to do so. She created good programs out of the oft-maligned office of treasurer, and we look forward to seeing her bring the same energy to the auditor’s office.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhy we endorse
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This story was originally published October 27, 2023 at 8:25 AM.