The Office of the Legislative Auditor was created in 1973 following the recommendation of a private-sector study group called the Loaned Executive Action Program (LEAP). Between 1878 and 1973, state agencies and local governments were audited by the Public Examiner, an appointee of the Governor. LEAP argued that this arrangement did not provide for a true independent, or “arms-length,” examination of the executive branch. LEAP recommended creation of an office in the legislative branch comparable to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a non-partisan Congressional “watchdog” at the national level.
Initially, Minnesota’s Office of the Legislative Auditor conducted only financial audits of state agencies. In 1975, its duties were expanded when a Program Evaluation Division was created within the office to examine the management and impact of state-funded programs. In 1994, the Program Evaluation Division was directed by law to also conduct “best practice reviews” of local government functions. This responsibility was shifted to the State Auditor in 2004. The State Auditor is also responsible for auditing local governments.
|
Legislative Auditors |
Term of Office |
|---|---|
| Judy Randall | 11/09/2021 - Present |
| Joel Alter (interim) | 10/07/2021 - 11/09/2021 |
| James Nobles | 11/17/1983 - 10/06/2021 |
|
John Asmussen/James Nobles (co-acting) |
07/01/1983 - 11/16/1983 |
| Gerald W. Christenson | 11/21/1982 - 06/30/1983 |
|
Pat Spellacy/James Nobles (co-acting) |
09/19/1981 - 11/20/1982 |
| Eldon Stoehr | 08/15/1977 - 09/18/1981 |
| Willard Olson (acting) | 06/01/1977 - 08/14/1977 |
| Robert A. Whitaker | 09/01/1973 - 05/31/1977 |
|
Deputy Legislative Auditors Financial Audit Division |
Term of Office |
|---|---|
| Lori Leysen | 11/13/2020 - Present |
| Chris Buse | Nov 2017 - Apr 2020 |
| Cecile Ferkul | Feb 2006 - Sep 2017 |
| Claudia Gudvangen | Jan 1998 - Jan 2006 |
| John Asmussen | 1982 - 1997 |
|
Deputy Legislative Auditors Program Evaluation Division |
Term of Office |
|---|---|
| Jodi Munson Rodriguez | 12/06/2022 - Present |
| Judy Randall | Jun 2015 - 12/06/2022 |
| Roger A. Brooks | 1984 - 2003 |
| James Nobles | 1978 - 1983 |
| Bruce Spitz | 1977 - 1978 |
See also: https://www.lrl.mn.gov/agencies/detail?AgencyID=1224
| Public Examiners | Term of Office |
|---|---|
| Robert Whitaker | 05/03/1965 - 08/31/1973 |
| Robert Whitaker (acting) | 04/17/1963 - 05/02/1965 |
| William Scott | 09/01/1961 - 04/16/1963 |
| Robert Whitaker (acting) | 02/01/1961 - 08/31/1961 |
| Raymond Vecellio | 01/01/1955 - 01/31/1961 |
| Richard Golling | 05/01/1943 - 12/31/1954 |
| Joseph T. Langlais | 06/05/1939 - 04/31/1943 |
| Comptrollers | Term of Office |
|---|---|
| Joseph T. Langlais | 1/3/1939 - 6/4/1939 |
| E.J. Pearlove | 2/2/1931 - 1/2/1939 |
| Henry Rines | 7/1/1925 - 2/1/1931 |
| Public Examiners | Term of Office |
|---|---|
| Garfield W. Brown | 09/01/1921 - 06/30/1925 |
| Andrew E. Fritz | 01/03/1911 - 08/31/1921 |
| Anton Schaefer | 02/01/1907 - 01/02/1911 |
| Peter M. Kerst | 02/01/1905 - 02/01/1907 |
| Samuel T. Johnson | 01/06/1902 - 02/01/1905 |
| Edmund M. Pope | 01/06/1899 - 01/06/1902 |
| Elmer H. Dearth | 1897-1898 |
| Moses Dibble Kenyon | 02/29/1888 - 01/06/1896 |
| Henry Martyn Knox | 05/01/1878 - 02/29/1888 |
See also: https://www.lrl.mn.gov/agencies/detail?AgencyID=1325
