Governor Terry Branstad says the state’s constitution does not require it, but he’d like to appoint a Certified Public Accountant to serve as the next state auditor.
Dave Vaudt, the current state auditor, is resigning on May 3 to take a job as chair of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, based in Norwalk, Connecticut.
“He’s been just a great voice, a watchdog for the taxpayers, very knowledgeable, very articulate, very effective communicator of the importance of having good fiscal management,” Branstad said during an interview in his statehouse office. “I’m obviously looking for somebody like that again.”
Vaudt’s term runs through the end of 2014. Branstad would like to find a replacement who’s willing to put their name on the 2014 ballot to be elected to a full, four-year term as state auditor.
“We’re going to take a real public, transparent approach to seeing people who might have an interest in serving,” Branstad said.
The governor once served on the American Institute of Public Accountants and Branstad said he has a lot of respect for the profession.
“I’m not saying absolutely I wouldn’t consider anybody that’s not a CPA,” Branstad said, “but I think David, as a CPA, has really been ideal for that position and it would be nice to have somebody with those kind of credentials and background.”
Branstad said Vaudt’s new job is a “really big deal” and a tribute to the State of Iowa’s sound fiscal management. Vaudt was first elected in 2006 and reelected in 2010.