Story by Emyah Fortenberry
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As West Virginia gears up for the 2024 general election, the state auditor race offers voters a choice between Democrat Mary Ann Claytor, with 22 years as a state auditor employee, and Republican Mark Hunt, with 14 years of state legislature experience.
Both candidates come with extensive experience and unique priorities for the office, which plays a vital role in the overseeing state spending and regulatory compliance.
In a recent interview on 580 Live with Dave Allen on 580 WCHS, Claytor emphasized the need for her unique experience in the State Auditor position.
“There is a continual need for somebody like me that actually has accounting and auditing experience,” Claytor said. “I am the only candidate actually with an accounting degree and real auditing experience.”
However, Hunt said the role extends far beyond auditing alone.
“There’s more to the auditor’s office than auditing, a whole lot more.”
Hunt refers to his career of public service including several terms in the House Delegates. He’s been in the state Senate since 2020.
Both candidates have expressed intentions to enhance financial transparency across state agencies and aim to make improvements to the the current transparent checkbook initiative.
Hunt said, “I would require all state entities to participate in the transparent checkbook. Currently, it is optional.”
Proposing this change aims to ensure greater accountability in government spending Hunt includes.
Current two-term state Auditor J.B. McCuskey has been active in the area of transparency including the checkbook program that opens the books of counties and municipal government. Claytor said she’d tweak the program.
“I don’t like the way the information gets put in. I’m a big proponent of source documents; information coming straight from the source documents,” Claytor explained.
Hunt defeated Delegate Caleb Hanna of Charleston, House Majority Leader Eric Householder of Martinsburg and former Jefferson County Commissioner Tricia Jackson in the May Primary. Claytor has twice previously run for auditor.
MetroNews Decision 2024 coverage begins Tuesday night at 7:06.