Minnesota

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Minnesota

Constitution United States Constitution Minnesota Constitution Executive Government Governor: Tim Pawlenty Lieutenant Governor: Carol Molnau Attorney General: Lori Swanson Secretary of State: Mark Ritchie State Auditor: Rebecca Otto State Treasurer: 1858-2003 State Cabinet Legislature Legislature Senate President of the Senate: James Metzen Majority Leader: Lawrence Pogemiller Minority Leader: David Senjem House of Representatives Speaker: Margaret Anderson Kelliher Majority Leader:Anthony Sertich Minority Leader: Kurt Zellers Judiciary Supreme Court Court of Appeals District Courts Specialty Courts Elections Elections Political Parties Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Republican Party Green Party Independence Party List of political parties in Minnesota National minor parties Political party strength Divisions Counties Cities and Towns Federal Relations Federal representation United States Senate Amy Klobuchar (DFL) Al Franken (DFL) United States House 1: Tim Walz (DFL) 2: John Kline (R) 3: Jim Ramstad (R) 4: Betty McCollum (DFL) 5: Keith Ellison (DFL) 6: Michele Bachmann (R) 7:Collin Peterson (DFL) 8:Jim Oberstar (DFL) Politics of the United States

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The Minnesota State Auditor is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. State of Minnesota. The State Auditor is charged with overseeing more than $20 billion spent annually by local governments in Minnesota. The State Auditor does this by performing audits of local government financial statements and by reviewing documents, data, reports and complaints reported to the Office. The financial information collected is analyzed and serves as the basis of statutory reports issued by the Office of the State Auditor. The State Auditor is elected and serves a four year term.^[1]

Contents 1 History 1.1 Territory 1.2 State 2 Note on Minnesota political parties names 3 External links 4 References

[edit] History

The State Auditor's office has existed since before Minnesota Territory became the state of Minnesota in 1858. Before 1973 the State Auditor approved all executive branch expenditures in advance. In 1973 the responsibilities of the State Auditor were reshuffled. The State Auditor shifted to its current role, which was previously handled by the Public Examiner, an office appointed by the governor. The Public Examiner's position was eliminated at this time.^[2]

[edit] Territory

Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
Jonathan E. McKusick	1849	1852	Republican
Abraham Van Vorhes	1852	1853	Republican
Socrates Nelson	1853	1854
Julius Georgii	1854	1858

The term of the State Auditor was originally three years. In 1883 voters approved a constitutional amendment changing it to four years.

[edit] State

Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
William F. Dunbar	1858	1861
Charles McIlrath	1861	1873
Orlan P. Whitcomb	1873	1882
William W. Braden	1882	1891
Adolph Biermann	1891	1895
Robert C. Dunn	1895	1903	Republican
Samuel G. Iverson	1903	1915	Republican
J. A. O. Preus	1915	1921	Republican
Ray P. Chase	1921	1931	Republican
Stafford King	1931	1969	Republican
William J. O'Brien	1969	1971	Republican
Rolland F. Hatfield	1971	1975
Robert W. Mattson, Jr.	1975	1979	Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL)
Arne Carlson	1979	1991	Independent-Republican
Mark Dayton	1991	1995	Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL)
Judi Dutcher	1995	2003	Republican (later switched to the DFL)
Patricia Anderson (formerly Awada)	2003	2007	Republican
Rebecca Otto	2007	-	Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL)

[edit] Note on Minnesota political parties names

• DFL: In 1944 the state Democratic party and the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party merged and created the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). It is affiliated with the national Democratic party.

• Republican Party of Minnesota: From November 1975 to September 1995 the name of the state Republican party was the Independent Republican party (IR). The party has always been affiliated with the national Republican party.

[edit] External links

• Minnesota State Auditor website

[edit] References