Endorsements

Voice of the Free Press: Recommendations for statewide offices
Editorial, October 22, 2010

Hoffer for state auditor of accounts

Doug Hoffer of Burlington, running with the endorsement of the Democrats and Progressives, would bring a deep knowledge of how government works and a record of tracking down inefficiencies in Montpelier to the office of state auditor. Hoffer presents a capable air and a sharp focus on what he feels needs to be done backed by past work for the auditor’s office under Ed Flanagan.

The focus of the auditor, first, must be to ensure that Montpelier is making the best use of the money Vermonters entrust to state government, to be ever-vigilant for waste and thievery.

Hoffer understands the importance of public accountability in government, and the key to that accountability is public access to information. He sees secrecy as the breeding ground for government waste and inefficiency. Hoffer can make his mark as auditor by exposing what closed government is costing the people of Vermont.

As a Statehouse outsider, Hoffer brings a degree of skepticism about officialdom necessary for a watchdog. As a long-time policy analyst, he is familiar with the nooks and crannies where government information can hide.

Hoffer brings the right combination of experience and attitude to serve as auditor.

Speaker Shap Smith Voices Support for Doug Hoffer
October 17, 2010

Vermont House Speaker Shap Smith of Morrisville today joined the growing list of elected leaders and other Vermonters backing the upstart candidacy of Democrat Doug Hoffer for State Auditor.

“There is no question of my support of Doug,” said Speaker Smith. “In a recent VPR interview comments made by Tom Salmon might be interpreted that I am supporting Mr. Salmon in his election bid for State Auditor. That is not true. I stand strongly behind the Democratic nominee Doug Hoffer. I have worked with Doug over the years and he will bring integrity and effectiveness to the State Auditor’s office.”

Hoffer said he greatly appreciated Smith’s support and that of other legislators. “The record is pretty clear that I have worked for many years to provide policy makers with independent, fact-based recommendations on how to improve job creation and how to help grow our economy in sustainable ways, like keeping money in Vermont. I’m happy to receive Shap’s acknowledgement of those efforts, and I look forward to continuing my fight to make Vermont government more accountable if elected on Tuesday, November 2nd.”

Progs name Hoffer as their candidate for Auditor
Mon, August 30, 2010 10:49:50 PM

Montpelier –Fifty Progressives met in Montpelier on Saturday for their quarterly State Committee meeting. The Progressives nominated Doug Hoffer as their candidate for Auditor of Accounts. In doing so, they filled a vacancy created when Progressive Party Treasurer Michael Bayer withdrew from the race last week.

Hoffer stated: “Under my watch, the Auditor’s office will not use taxpayer funds for personal or political campaign purposes. We all have concerns about the performance of the current Auditor. This race is about restoring the integrity of the Auditor’s office.”

He continued, “Moreover, I will use my twenty years of experience as a policy analyst to make sure taxpayer funds are used effectively.”

August 19, 2010

• Auditor of Accounts: Doug Hoffer gets the nod

In the race between Democrats Doug Hoffer and Ed Flanagan, Hoffer deserves a chance to bring his progressive approach to the table. Intelligent and experienced in conducting state audits and performance reviews for the state as a self-employed policy analyst for the past 17 years, Hoffer campaigns on one principle point: he’s the better Democrat to run against incumbent Republican Thomas Salmon.

On that score alone, he’s right. That’s because Flanagan, a former state auditor and now a senator from Chittenden County, has recently embarrassed himself in numerous ways. That he was in a near-fatal car accident and has recovered remarkably is to his credit, but those personal incidents make him unsuitable for the job and not a strong candidate to challenge Salmon.

Hoffer, on the other hand, would bring a sharp and probing intellect to the position while pledging to keep his personal politics off the table. The auditor’s job, he says, is to provide the Legislature with the facts and reports it needs to ensure the legislation as proposed is based on good data and the programs passed are working as cost-effectively as they were intended. Vote for Hoffer in the Democratic race for auditor of accounts.

Read the full editorial at

http://www.addisonindependent.com/201008editorial-primary-endorsements

BENNINGTON BANNER
Hoffer for auditor
Editorial

Sunday August 22, 2010

For state auditor, we endorse Democrat Doug Hoffer, who is facing a high-profile opponent, former Auditor and state Sen. Edward Flanagan in the primary and could face another — current state Auditor Thomas M. Salmon, a Republican — in the November election.

Both of his opponents may or may not have other offices or political issues in mind in seeking the auditor’s post, but it seems clear that Mr. Hoffer truly wants this particular job, understands what is required, and is the best qualified to undertake it.

A longtime self-employed policy analyst who has written a number of reports — on jobs and wages in Vermont, state pension investments, child care, renewable energy and other topics — Mr. Hoffer also has worked under contract on projects for the state auditor’s office, the treasurer’s office, the Legislature, the Vermont State Employees Association and other organizations and agencies.

Read more
http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_15862418

RUTLAND HERALD / TIMES ARGUS
Shaping the future

August 20, 2010

In the Democratic race for state auditor, Doug Hoffer is a new face, running against former auditor and present senator Ed Flanagan. Flanagan was the victim of a serious auto accident several years ago, and concerns about his behavior since then have left an opening for Hoffer, an economist with strong views challenging Republican orthodoxy. Hoffer would represent a serious challenge to incumbent auditor, Republican Tom Salmon.

Read the entire editorial at
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100820/OPINION01/708209991/1038/OPINION01

BRATTLEBORO REFORMER
A hot Primary
By JOYCE MARCEL

Thursday August 19, 2010

For Auditor of Accounts, former auditor Edward Flanagan is running against Doug Hoffer, one of the most astute public policy analysts in the state. The winner will take on current auditor Tom Salmon, who started as a Democrat and switched to the Republican side a few years ago.

Hoffer has already taken on Salmon for holding on to a study of the Vermont Yankee decommissioning fund that was requested by state legislators three years ago. Hoffer also audited Flannagan and Salmon’s campaign filings and pointed out where they didn’t add up. He sounds like the kind of gadfly we need keeping an eye on our shrinking state budget.

Read the entire column at
http://www.reformer.com/localeditorials/ci_15822389