By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Adam Thompson (R) has made his formal announcement that he intends to seek the Republican nomination for the office of State Auditor in the 2014 election. This will be Thompson’s first candidacy for a public office but he has experience working in both the Alabama State Auditor’s office and the Alabama Secretary of State’s office.
Thompson said, “I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve the citizens of Alabama in two separate offices in state government. Now I have chosen to focus my attention and use my experience to run for State Auditor in 2014.”
Thompson says he is interested in the State Auditor’s Office because, “There are $2 billion of assets that belong to the taxpayers of Alabama that must be protected. That is $300 million more than the current year’s General Fund budget! The job of the State Auditor is to be a watchdog for the people of this state. In these tough economic times every penny counts in government, just like they do in our homes.” Thompson says he has the experience doing that since he worked with Chapman during a time when there were 96% perfect audits; holding agencies accountable and getting results.
Thompson told ‘The Alabama Political Reporter’ that the state Auditor’s office audits every state office every two years and that some state agencies do a better job of protecting state resources than others. Thompson said that for example one agency reported that it had lost a $10,000 Xerox machine. “That is inexcusable. How do you “lose” a copy machine the size of a kitchen table?”
Thompson said on his website: “If you elect me as your State Auditor such incidences will not occur. Holding agencies accountable means less money spent to replace equipment and more money available for public safety, our children’s education, seniors’ medical care and other critical functions of state government. The current value of all of YOUR state property is $2 billion. That is more than the entire State General Fund budget. State government must learn to live within its means, and part of that process is protecting the assets you already own and not constantly spending money for new items because things are “lost.””
Thompson has worked for Alabama Secretary of State Beth Chapman in both the Secretary of State’s office and the Auditor’s office.
The current State Auditor, Samantha Shaw (R) is prohibited from seeking another term by term limits.
