Name as it appears on the ballot: Tim Hoegemeyer
Age: 50
Party affiliation: Republican
Campaign website: www.hoege4auditor.com
Occupation & employer: Attorney, Self-employed
Years lived in North Carolina: 28
1) Please tell us what in your record as a public official or private citizen demonstrates your ability to be an effective State Auditor. These might include career or community service—please be specific. What do you believe qualifies you for the job?
I served in the State Auditor’s office for over 12 years, for two different State Auditor’s, one Republican and one Democrat. I was the General Counsel and also the Fraud Investigative Unit reported to me. During that time, I played a key role in many of the most impactful audits that came out of the office. In addition, I’m a Certified Fraud Examiner. In my time at the Auditor’s office I worked closely with leaders in many different agencies and also worked closely with the General Assembly so I have the experience demeanor to work within state government to promote good governance and fiscal responsibility.
2) What do you believe are the three most pressing issues face the State Auditor’s office? If elected, what would you do to address them?
The three most pressing issues are:
The need to cooperatively work with state agencies to better promote good governance and fiscal responsibility;
The need to proactively pursue fraud, waste, and abuse, and to focus on higher impact audits;
The need to turn around morale so that talented staff can be recruited and maintained.
I would address them as follows:
The law gives the Auditor the opportunity, and even responsibility, to coordinate the audit efforts of not just her office but of all of state government. Right now, that is not happening because the current Auditor only sees the role of external auditor and has not had the vision to promote fiscal responsibility and good governance within state government. This can be done through education, relying on the internal auditors of the other agencies to handle smaller more routine audits (thus freeing the auditors of the State Auditor’s office to concentrate on more impactful audits), and promoting audit themes throughout government to shine a light on systemic waste, inefficiencies, and ineffectiveness, and to promote solutions to those problems.
However, a cooperative leadership style where you work with, instead of against, other agencies, does not mean I would turn the other way when fraud, waste, or abuse is present. Currently the office takes a passive approach to investigating fraud and waste by relying exclusively on a hotline to supply investigative leads. I plan to pursue fraud and waste proactively, like the Federal Bureau of Investigation pursues crime, by developing sources and using data analytics, among other techniques. While the Auditor’s office has started using analytics, they are way behind the private sector that has been using it for many years. In addition, the office does put out some audits with impact, but not nearly enough. Too many resources are expended conducting audits that just don’t have much bang for the buck. I would make sure the audits the office conducts are worthwhile and have a positive impact for North Carolina.
The office has poor morale. I know that because I saw it up close for the years, I worked under the current State Auditor. Morale starts at the top and this poor morale, and resulting high turnover, is devastating to an agency so reliant on quality professional work. I would repair and reverse this trend through my leadership style which was honed in the Marines. I would have high expectations but I would match that with respect and encouragement. I will give the incredible professional staff of that office, specific direction, the training and resources to carry out the mission, then I’ll get out of the way and let them accomplish it.
3) To what extent should auditing be policy-driven, as opposed to the fundamental job of ascertaining whether money was spent in the way the law directed that it should be spent? In other words, when is it the Auditor’s job to recommend changes in law and policy?
It I ALWAYS the Auditor’s job to recommend changes in law and policy.
N.C. General Statute 147-64.6(c)(6) reads;
“The Auditor is authorized and directed in the Auditor’s reports of audits or reports of special investigations to make any comments, suggestions, or recommendations the Auditor deems appropriate concerning any aspect of such agency’s activities and operations.”
I would take this role seriously and always take the opportunity to recommend changes in law and policy that would promote better stewardship of our states resources.
4) What areas of state spending do you believe will demand your sustained attention? Please be specific.
I said earlier that the office needs to focus on audits that get more of a “bang for the buck.” In other words, put out more audits that have a real impact. To do that one must look at the areas in the state budget that get the most money. Therefore, I believe the following areas would demand my sustained attention:
The Department of Public Instruction
The Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Transportation
5) The Auditor’s office is expected to stay out of politics. What steps will you take to assure the public that you and your office are meeting that standard?
As part of the audit planning process we would acknowledge the potential political aspects and impact of the audit we were undertaking and we would plan the audit in such a way to ensure we looked at every aspect of the issue, then reported only the facts, in an unbiased way. Then after the audit report was completed but before it was released, we’d have it reviewed by a quality assurance team to verify that the audit was conducted without bias or influenced by political ideology and that the report was written by those same standards.
6) What steps will you take as Auditor to build trust that the office is applying the law equally to each subject of an investigation?
The quality assurance team/process that I described above would tackle the conduct of investigations in much the same way. It would also serve as a check to make sure every “stone was overturned” to get to the truth.
7) What measures will you take to recruit and retain qualified, experienced employees?
First and foremost, I would work to create an environment where employees will want to stay and can flourish. I would look to business and see what practices work in industry to make employees productive and fulfilled. That might be flexible schedules or work locations, etc. I would be open to any and all options that would retain productive and experienced employees. But any changes would need to also ensure that the office would successfully accomplish its mission for the citizens of North Carolina.
As for recruiting, I would look to areas of recruitment the office hasn’t before. I would go to universities it doesn’t typically visit, and use technology and recruitment services it isn’t currently using.
8) What additional measures should the State Auditor take to encourage citizens to offer information about the abuse of taxpayer dollars?
I believe awareness is key. It is my belief that most citizens still don’t know the State Auditor has a hotline where they can report allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse. I would increase efforts to make the public aware of the hotline and also make the public aware of the office’s mission and accomplishments in general.
9) Is there anything else you wish to address that was not included in this questionnaire?
I’m a veteran of the United State’s Marine Corps and also a veteran of the Office of the State Auditor. I served for over 12 years for two State Auditors as their General Counsel, and I enjoyed serving the state in that capacity. But I saw the need for a change in leadership and a change in focus, and took the bold and risky step to run against my former boss. I hope the voters will see that as an example of the integrity and courage that it takes to be the State Auditor. The State Auditor must have integrity and courage to pursue fraud, waste, and abuse in state government, because those in government perpetuating the fraud, waste, and abuse don’t want you to find it and will go to great lengths to cover it up and keep the Auditor at bay or even try to persuade the Auditor to look the other way. I have the integrity, courage, and experience it takes to be the Tax Payer’s Watchdog. I would appreciate your vote on 3/3 and 11/3.
