Candidate name: Janice Lorrah

Party: Republican

Age: 47

Hometown: Hockessin

Political experience: During college, I was an intern for the first lady of Pennsylvania, Ellen Casey. After graduating from college, I began my professional career in government as a legislative aide for a New Jersey state assemblywoman. During law school, I worked for the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office’s Labor, Commerce & Licensing and Banking & Insurance divisions. After law school, I served as a federal law clerk for the Honorable Stanley S. Brotman in the District of New Jersey and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Professional experience: My experience, leadership and legal expertise make me highly qualified to serve as Delaware’s state auditor. As an attorney for 20 years who also holds a certificate in forensic accounting, I understand how to ask the right questions and how to look in the right places to expose waste and inefficiency, and to root out fraud and corruption. In my law practice, I check the books and find the crooks, and I want to do the same for Delaware as auditor.

How can the office best serve the public?

As auditor, I will provide timely, fact-based, nonpartisan information that can be used to improve government and save taxpayer dollars. My top priority will be to return the office back to the people of Delaware by performing the required audits and not use the office to further a political agenda. I will bring checks and balances on government spending, restore transparency and accountability, and bring confidence back to our government. I will be an independent watchdog of the people to ensure that Delawareans’ hard-earned tax dollars are not wasted.

What are the top three issues for this office in your view?

• Independence and objectivity — The Office of the State Auditor should be an independent, nonpartisan watchdog of Delaware’s finances. No government body at any level should get a free pass from accountability and transparency. The auditor must be willing to follow the money wherever it leads. As auditor, I promise to keep partisan politics out of the office and to serve all Delawareans.

• Ensuring accountability — Eliminating waste, fraud and abuse will be the cornerstone of the Auditor’s Office. I will ask the hard questions of elected and appointed officials and ensure agencies are held accountable for their spending decisions.

• Fighting for transparent government — Decisions need to be made in accordance with the law and in the light of day — not with a handshake in a backroom. I will work to ensure that Delawareans fully understand how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent, how government contracts are awarded and how we measure the results of our investments.

Are there any new initiatives or changes you would bring to the office?

First and foremost, the audits required by state statute must be performed within the proper time frame. Second, identifying and ensuring that the office is funded and staffed at a level that allows the Auditor’s Office to successfully serve as the taxpayer’s watchdog and meet its mission of combating waste, fraud and abuse. This includes seeking alternative sources of funding outside of the state budget to make sure that the required state audits are fully funded.

Do you believe Delaware would benefit from an inspector general?

While additional oversight of government officials is a good thing, the proposed inspector general would be an appointed position. When you have a one-party system and the ruling party appoints the inspector general to investigate corruption by government officials, that is like the fox guarding the chicken coop! On the other hand, the auditor is elected directly by the voters and answers directly to the people of Delaware, not a political party.