I am running for Oklahoma State Auditor because I am the most qualified and experienced candidate.

I have 25 years experience in governmental accounting and auditing. I have conducted, supervised, or been involved in hundreds of audits of all kinds of governmental entities. Dozens of those audits have resulted in the discovery of fraud. Every audit that has resulted in criminal prosecution where I was the key witness has ended with the conviction or guilty plea of the public official charged with the crime. In contrast, I have seen numerous audits conducted by employees of the State Auditor’s office that have resulted in declined prosecution, acquittal or dismissed cases. I don’t like to see public officials get away with stealing from the people of Oklahoma. I would like to reestablish the spirit of cooperation between the state auditor’s office and federal state and local prosecutors. A good working relationship is critical to holding corrupt public officials accountable.

I have unique experience, skills, and abilities that I want to bring to the auditor’s office to see that the staff is trained and equipped to be as effective and efficient as possible.

I would like to see and increase performance audits by the Oklahoma State Auditor’s Office. Performance audits are an important tool in the identification and correction of inefficiency and waste in government. The current Oklahoma State Auditor’s website shows only 1 performance audit has been completed since 2008. In that same time period, Louisiana has completed 41, Kansas 56, and Colorado 32.

I would also like to explore ways to depoliticize the office of Auditor and Inspector. I believe the State Auditor should spend his time in office taking care of the business of the state, and not raising money or campaigning for reelection or election to another public office.

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By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau

The Republican primary for state auditor pits the former state party chairman against a veteran from the auditor's office.

Gary Jones will make his third attempt to win the office. He faces David Hanigar, who worked for the State Auditor and Inspector's Office, mostly assigned to the multicounty grand jury run by the attorney general.

Gov. Brad Henry in 2008 appointed Democrat Steve Burrage to the post after then-State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan resigned amid a public corruption probe.

The GOP primary is July 27. The winner will face Burrage in the Nov. 2 general election.

After leaving the auditor's office, Hanigar worked directly for the attorney general from June 2009 until his retirement in April.

Hanigar of Edmond holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and master's degree in business administration from Oklahoma City University. He spent seven years with the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

"For 25 years I have been looking for fraud and reporting on it and supporting those findings in a court of law," Hanigar said. "I think I am the most qualified, with the most experience, to run the auditor's office."

Some of the probes that Hanigar has worked on include the ghost employees at the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the investigation of former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher.

"I believe with my experience and skills, I am the best person to make sure the staff at the auditor's office is trained and equipped to recognize the indicators of fraud and to support those findings in court," Hanigar said.

Click here to read the rest of this article at the Tulsa World online

James Coburn The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — The dire financial state of Oklahoma and the U.S. has prompted Edmond Republican David Hanigar to run for the Office of State Auditor and Inspector, he said.

Hanigar, 66, will face 55-year-old Gary Jones of Cache in the Republican primary for state auditor and inspector on July 27. The winner of that race will go up against 57-year-old Antlers Democrat Steve Burrage in the general election Nov. 2.

Hanigar retired in April after spending 25 years working for the state auditor’s office.

“During that 25 years, I’ve been exposed to situations that I’ve found improper or inappropriate in the state auditor’s office,” said Hanigar, a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.

He worked jointly with the Office of Attorney General doing fraud audits and litigation support. A number of Hanigar’s audits resulted in criminal prosecution, he said. Hanigar served as chief financial officer, prepared the budget and did purchasing for day-to-day financial operations, he said.

“I believe that my qualifications and experience that I’m the best person to make sure that the auditor’s office staff is trained to go out and recognize indicators of fraud and be able to support those findings in a court of law,” Hanigar said.

The auditor’s office should be more proactive in completing performance audits, he said. Only one performance audit has been completed since 2008, Hanigar said. In contrast, he said the state of Louisiana has completed 41 audits. Kansas has done 56 audits and Colorado completed 32 audits since 2008.

A performance audit measures an agency’s efficiency and use of tax dollars, he said.
Click here and read the rest at the Edmond Sun online"