Committee to form ad hoc to recruit County auditor’s successor after auditor announces July 25 departure

The committee agreed to a process to recruit a successor to County Auditor Robert Benner, who told the committee his last day will be July 25.

Why it matters: The County Auditor oversees government audits and accountability work that support transparency and oversight across county departments. Filling the post is a multi-year appointment (the auditor’s term is six years) and the committee intends a thorough, open process.

Committee action and process

Councilmember Goro Inaba asked the committee to form an ad hoc or permitted-interaction group to solicit, review and interview applicants, score candidates and forward finalists to the full council. Inaba said she will chair the ad hoc; Councilmember Kirkowitz indicated she wants to serve and Councilmember Eustace volunteered to participate. Auditor Benner appeared and offered brief remarks thanking council members and staff; he said the prior recruitment process had been thorough and open and expressed confidence the council would find a qualified successor.

The committee voted to postpone taking further action on communication 358 to the call of the chair so the ad hoc can be organized and the recruitment timeline established. The clerk recorded eight members in favor of postponement with one member excused.

Provenance: The request to form an ad hoc was introduced at s=8402.775–e=8432.375 and the committee action to postpone occurred at s=8719.511–e=8733.435.