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Candidate for auditor

Name: Lorenzo Garcia, Republican

Age: 55

Campaign Web site address: lgarcia4auditor.com

Occupation: Recently retired governmental accountant/auditor

Family: Married for 33 years; one son, one daughter, and a granddaughter

Education: Bachelor's and licensed certified public accountant

Please list the experience you think would make you a good state auditor.

1. Two years as chief financial officer with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission

2. Five years as a senior performance auditor with the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee

3. One-and-a-half years as a financial management consultant with the New Mexico Human Services Department

4. One year as the state cash manager with the New Mexico state Treasurers Office

5. Two years as a staff auditor with the state Auditors Office

6. Three years as the director of medicaid fraud unit in the state Auditors Office

7. Three-and-a-half years as a special agent of white collar crime and government corruption with the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office.

8. Six years as a bank examiner with the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Have you ever been arrested or charged with a felony or misdemeanor? No.

What's the best meal you can cook from scratch? Lasagna.

Last book you read: "Albuquerque" by Rudolfo Anaya.

What was your biggest mistake in life and what lesson did you learn?

I can recollect several life-learning mistakes, but one, in particular, seems to come to mind more that all the others. When I was a younger man, in my 20s, I owned a mobile home that I had placed in the market for sale due to job-related relocation. I thought I knew its value and did not obtain an appraisal. The first couple that saw the mobile home made an oral offer at the advertised price. I accepted the offer orally. I subsequently learned that the mobile home was actually worth much more. I contacted the couple and asked if they would agree to a higher price. They did not agree and were disappointed and angry. I remember telling my father about the situation and he criticized me severely for not keeping my word. I could tell that he was very disappointed. He told me point blank that I had done wrong and advised that I go back to the couple, apologize and tell them that I would sell at the agreed upon price if they were still interested. They couple agreed and the sale was consummated at the original agreed-upon price. I remember how bad I felt about my behavior and the disappointment that was felt by the couple who purchased the mobile home as well as my father's.

Three lessons learned:

(1) Be a man that keeps his word.

(2) If you make a mistake, admit it and correct it if possible.

(3) Thoroughly analyze a matter before committing yourself to it.

What would be your top priorities for the Auditor's Office. What specific steps would you take to achieve them?

My top priority would be to effectively and efficiently administer audits of state agencies, state boards and commissions, county and local governments, and school districts as the State Auditor is charged by the State Audit Act. Although the SAO audit staff conducts some audits, the bulk of the governmental audits are conducted by independent private accountants, via contracts with state agencies, local governments and school districts. The state auditor promulgates audit rules to aid him in the management the contracts, IPA audit work, and audit report approval. I would solicit participation from IPAs, and officials of the audited entities.

Another priority would be to work with the internal audit bureaus or divisions of state agencies, the governor, attorney general and other government officials to establish and execute a plan that seriously deals with fraud and government corruption. I would lobby for funds to enable this endeavor.

Does the Auditor's Office have the powers it needs to do timely and extensive audits?

The SAO does have the power needed to to do timely and extensive audits. It is important to note, however, that although the SAO audit staff conducts some audits, the bulk of the governmental audits are conducted by independent private accountants (IPAs), via contracts with state agencies, local governments and school districts. The state auditor manages the contracting of these audits, reviews the work of the IPAs and approves the audit reports prior to public dissemination.

The indictment of former state Treasurer Robert Vigil has raised serious questions about the handling of state finances. What could the Auditor's Office have done to detect any problems earlier? What changes in the system of audits need to be made?

Although former state Treasurer Robert Vigil has received far more media attention with regard to the state treasurer scandal, it was his predecessor Michael Montoya who originally masterminded and executed the racket and received millions of dollars in kickbacks. It has been reported that Michael Montoya actually admitted that immediately after his first term election he began to seek methods and accomplices to enable the perpetration of the corruption. When someone is prone to corruption as Mr. Montoya has admitted he was, there is nothing the state auditor or any other governmental official can do to prevent that person from perpetrating the fraud. The public, however, can carefully scrutinize the qualification of all candidates and elect qualified honest persons to fill these vital positions.

How would you better publicize results of audits by the Auditor's Office?

On the state auditor's Web site, I would list all completed audits for each year with the date of completion, the type of opinion issued, the agency contact person and if possible, a link to the agency's Web site where the audit report can be observed electronically, if available in scanned format. I would encourage all agencies to incorporate a scanned audit report in their web site.

Some say lesser-known offices like auditor should be appointed by the governor and/or Legislature. Would you support that? Why or why not?

I do not support the appointment of the state auditor and would lobby against any such proposal. The independence and autonomy of this office are critical to the effective administration of its duties and responsibilities. It is this independence that provides assurances to the public that the financial affairs of government are being accurately and objectively reviewed and reported.