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3 golden objects Minnesota Legislature

Office of the Legislative Auditor

History

The Office of the Legislative Auditor was created in 1973 following the recommendation of a private-sector study group called the Loaned Executive Action Program (LEAP). Between 1878 and 1973, state agencies and local governments were audited by the Public Examiner, an appointee of the Governor. LEAP argued that this arrangement did not provide for a true independent, or “arms-length,” examination of the executive branch. LEAP recommended creation of an office in the legislative branch comparable to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a non-partisan Congressional “watchdog” at the national level.

Initially, Minnesota’s Office of the Legislative Auditor conducted only financial audits of state agencies. In 1975, its duties were expanded when a Program Evaluation Division was created within the office to examine the management and impact of state-funded programs. In 1994, the Program Evaluation Division was directed by law to also conduct “best practice reviews” of local government functions. This responsibility was shifted to the State Auditor in 2004. The State Auditor is also responsible for auditing local governments.

 

Legislative Auditors
Term of Office
Judy Randall 11/09/2021 - Present
Joel Alter (interim) 10/07/2021 - 11/09/2021
James Nobles 11/17/1983 - 10/06/2021
John Asmussen/James Nobles
(co-acting)
07/01/1983 - 11/16/1983
Gerald W. Christenson 11/21/1982 - 06/30/1983
Pat Spellacy/James Nobles
(co-acting)
09/19/1981 - 11/20/1982
Eldon Stoehr 08/15/1977 - 09/18/1981
Willard Olson (acting) 06/01/1977 - 08/14/1977
Robert A. Whitaker 09/01/1973 - 05/31/1977

 

Deputy Legislative Auditors
Financial Audit Division
Term of Office
Lori Leysen 11/13/2020 - Present
Chris Buse Nov 2017 - Apr 2020
Cecile Ferkul Feb 2006 - Sep 2017
Claudia Gudvangen Jan 1998 - Jan 2006
John Asmussen 1982 - 1997

 

Deputy Legislative Auditors
Program Evaluation Division
Term of Office
Jodi Munson Rodriguez 12/06/2022 - Present
Judy Randall Jun 2015 - 12/06/2022
Roger A. Brooks 1984 - 2003
James Nobles 1978 - 1983
Bruce Spitz 1977 - 1978

See also: https://www.lrl.mn.gov/agencies/detail?AgencyID=1224

 

Public Examiners Term of Office
Robert Whitaker 05/03/1965 - 08/31/1973
Robert Whitaker (acting) 04/17/1963 - 05/02/1965
William Scott 09/01/1961 - 04/16/1963
Robert Whitaker (acting) 02/01/1961 - 08/31/1961
Raymond Vecellio 01/01/1955 - 01/31/1961
Richard Golling 05/01/1943 - 12/31/1954
Joseph T. Langlais 06/05/1939 - 04/31/1943

 

Comptrollers Term of Office
Joseph T. Langlais 1/3/1939 - 6/4/1939
E.J. Pearlove 2/2/1931 - 1/2/1939
Henry Rines 7/1/1925 - 2/1/1931

 

Public Examiners Term of Office
Garfield W. Brown 09/01/1921 - 06/30/1925
Andrew E. Fritz 01/03/1911 - 08/31/1921
Anton Schaefer 02/01/1907 - 01/02/1911
Peter M. Kerst 02/01/1905 - 02/01/1907
Samuel T. Johnson 01/06/1902 - 02/01/1905
Edmund M. Pope 01/06/1899 - 01/06/1902
Elmer H. Dearth 1897-1898
Moses Dibble Kenyon 02/29/1888 - 01/06/1896
Henry Martyn Knox 05/01/1878 - 02/29/1888

See also: https://www.lrl.mn.gov/agencies/detail?AgencyID=1325

 

More Information

Office of the Legislative Auditor, Room 140, 658 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55155 : legislative.auditor@state.mn.us or 651‑296‑4708