Transparency
I will run the most accountable and transparent Treasurer’s office in the nation. As Director of Transparency for the State Comptroller General, I was part of a team which established a model of transparency and accountability that is now used by government entities across South Carolina.
As Treasurer, I will make sure that my transparency initiative is implemented by every state agency so that you will know exactly where your tax dollars are being spent.
I know that it is important for everyone to have the most current information readily available, so I will promptly post all important financial records, reports, and documents online. I also want you to know how hard I will be working to eliminate all fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer money, so I will post my schedule online for everyone to see.
Stewardship
stew·ard·ship ˈstü-ərd-ˌshipˈ noun the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care (ref: Webster’s Online Dictionary)
Public service is not about being reelected, but rather it is about making a difference and serving a cause greater than oneself. Fiscal responsibility starts at the top, so I promise to limit benefits available to me as Treasurer. As an example, I will NOT accept a state vehicle and instead use my own car to travel to and from work. I will NOT use taxpayer money to promote myself or to seek personal political advantage through the use of State assets.
Term Limits
One of the biggest problems in government is that politicians get elected to make a difference and wind up staying in office so long that they forget why they went there for in the first place.
I will limit myself to two terms in office as your State Treasurer. That is ample time to implement the changes and reforms that are needed to bring faithful stewardship, accountability, and transparency to the Treasurer’s office.
Creation of Inspector General
As Treasurer, I will support the creation of an Office of Inspector General – an independent, non-partisan official who will be charged with making sure all levels of government are following state law and practicing sound fiscal management. The Inspector General will investigate and reveal instances of misconduct, fraud, theft, and waste of your tax money in each State Office and report all relevant findings to the people of South Carolina. Any findings will be forwarded to the Attorney General for prosecution.
The business of unlawful waste and abuse will end under my watch.
A Fraud Detection Team
Currently there is no one in the State Auditor’s Office who is charged to act as a watchdog to monitor the spending of public money. While other states have staffers who are specifically responsible for fraud prevention, South Carolina does not. While other states have centralized phone lines for citizens to report misuse of public funds, again, South Carolina does not.
Fraudulent spending of public money hurts not only the taxpayers, but also the people who really do need a hand up from South Carolina. I will work with the Budget and Control Board, and the State Auditor’s Office to create a state Fraud Detection Team who, along with the Inspector General, will be charged with investigating fraudulent expenditures.
If we are going to manage government in a different way, we will need some help doing it. A highly skilled Fraud Detection Team is absolutely necessary to guarantee that our money is being spent wisely. Maximizing accountability to the public is the only way to make sure your tax dollars are producing something besides the usual lackluster results. I will always strive to make certain your money is being spent correctly and with unparalleled efficiency.