In an email to Salt Lake County delegates over the weekend, Republican Greg Hawkins accused his opponent for the Republican nomination for Salt Lake County Auditor, Scott Tingley, of being a Democrat for most of his adult life.
Then, in a strange twist, Tingley admitted it.
According to Hawkins, Tingley is a long-time Democrat and supporter of Democratic candidate for the same office, Jeff Hatch, and has only entered the race to weaken Hawkins for Hatch.
As of March 14, 2014, my opponent, Scott Tingley, in this Republican Convention Contest was a registered democrat. He had been a registered democrat for over two decades before filing as a Republican candidate. He changed his party status from democrat to Republican right before he filed as a candidate. As late as March 14, 2014, he openly endorsed one of the democratic candidates for County Auditor — Jeff Hatch.
Scott Tingley, former Democrat, is seeking the Salt Lake County Republican nomination. for Salt Lake County Auditor.
Tingley fired off his own email within a couple of days. He admitted that he had registered as a Republican in time to run. In pertinent part:
I went online and officially registered as a Republican on February 25, 2014, because I wanted to be sure that I could attend my neighborhood caucus meeting on March 20, 2014. Yes, I have been a registered Democrat in the past. However, for more than 20 years of active voting, I have always considered myself unaffiliated.
[Emphasis added]
It’s hard to argue with that, though I don’t know that considering oneself unaffiliated is an appealing characteristic to Republican delegates. For better or for worse, we humans tend to be tribal, and Tingley just admitted that he was new to the tribe, and then perhaps only by convenience.
On the other hand, Hawkins is not running for reelection without some angst among delegates. His term in office has not gone unmarred by scandal or negative comment. As Tingley has been more than willing to point out–thoroughly–Hawkins has not always found the press happy with him.
Republican Greg Hawkins, current Salt Lake County Auditor, has accused his Tingley of becoming a Republican only for the purpose of running for county auditor and hurting Hawkins reelection campaign.
There is a concern among some Republican delegates, as well, that Hawkins may see himself as entitled to keep his position and is unwilling to show up to court delegate votes. His inability to get along with the Mayor and others in county government has given some pause, as well, though we should recognize that it is an auditor’s job to double-check the executive’s numbers, not kow-tow.
In any event, it sets up the stage for an odd choice. On one hand is a candidate who was until mid-March of this year Democrat. On the other is a candidate who may be less appealing to Republicans because of a lack of diplomacy. With less than ten days until the Salt Lake County Convention, it appears to be unappealing set of selections between which Republican county delegates must choose.
About Daniel Burton
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I was Director of Internal Audit in the Auditor’s office under 4 different Auditors from 2000 to 2012. I worked for Hawkins, and I find his charge about Tingley’s Democrat affiliations to be a “big red herring.” Hawkins wants to divert attention away from his absentee, non-professional, and authoritarian approach to operating his office.
Besides, in my experience, matters dealt with by the Auditor are non-partisan, by and large.
Here’s what you’ll continue to get from Hawkins:
• An auditor whose focus and physical presence at his Auditor’s post can’t compete with the time and attention devoted to his legal practice – Perceived, if not real, theft of services at $ 179,000 a year (see – Utah’s Right to Know)
• An auditor with no relevant experience in the audit profession, who dismisses the advice of experienced professionals and enforces his will through political lenses of his appointees – Cronyism trumping merit, every time.
• An auditor who values loyalty to himself over seasoned professional judgment and honest self-assessment – Loyalty to Greg is what counts, who cares about professional ethics or standards.
• An auditor who seeks the credit and the spotlight and casts the blame to others – Seek first to take credit, send your Chief Deputy to defend your self-inflicted controversies.
• An auditor who has mastered the art of “strategic disengagement” from the Council, the Mayor and even with his fellow elected officials – The case of the “omni-absent/invisible” Auditor
• An auditor who invented a new “quickie-drive by” risk assessment he calls Key Control Audits, to “pad” his numbers and boast about “auditing” all county agencies during the past 3+ years – even Arthur Anderson would blush with embarrassment.
___________>>>>>>
In contrast, here’s what Scott Tingley brings to the table, based on 5-years working on my staff as a professional colleague:
• Accountability to citizens and taxpayers
– No more “drive-by” audits that are “one mile wide and one inch deep”
– Instead, in-depth performance audits that have saved taxpayers millions of dollars
– Acting as the taxpayers’ “watch-dog” over County budgets and expenditures.
• Experience that’s relevant and proven effective
– Master’s of Accountancy and internal audit (CIA) and governmental auditing (CGAP) certifications.
– 10-year’s experience, including investigative work with the County DA, FBI, and the U. S. Attorney’s office resulting in criminal conviction of County employees.
– Teaming up with Elected Officials, Council, and Department Directors in assessing significant risks involving data security, disaster recovery, and critical-program performance, Countywide.
• Integrity to devote full attention and re-establish standards
– On duty every day, accessible to professional staff, fellow elected officials, and County citizens
– Adherence to the code of professional standards of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
– Provide staff training that focuses on current auditing issues and standards and meets outside continuing education needed for professional certifications
I urge delegates to elect an Auditor as County Auditor.
Jim Wightman, CPA, MBA, MAcc
Director of Internal Audit (Retired)
Salt Lake County Auditor’s Office