Doug Hoffer for Vermont State Auditor

Bennington Banner

Lisa Tathke, Associated Press
Monday, October 24, 2010

MONTPELIER — They’re both numbers guys — an accountant turned state auditor with a familiar Vermont political name and a self-employed policy analyst.

The two major party candidates for state auditor, Republican incumbent Thomas Salmon and his Democratic-Progressive challenger, Doug Hoffer, also have something else in common. Both think their experience and styles uniquely qualify them to run state government’s accountability office.

Hoffer, 59, of Burlington, who’s never run for elected office before, says he’s in the race because he’s frustrated with what he calls inadequate data provided to legislators on economic development. He thinks the auditor’s office has unfulfilled potential, and he has been critical of the review by Salmon’s office of the Vermont Economic Growth Incentive program and other work.

[State Senator Vince] Illuzzi called Hoffer “an invaluable resource” to all the committees on which Illuzzi has served, describing his analytical skills as a “hot knife through butter.”

“When he comes into our committee everybody pricks up their ears,” said Illuzzi of Hoffer, who often does the work on his own dime.

Read more

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_16424531 Continue reading →

The Commons

Randolph T. Holhut October 20, 2010

BRATTLEBORO—While the race for governor between Democrat Peter Shumlin and Republican Brian Dubie has monopolized all the attention, perhaps the most intriguing statewide race is the contest for auditor.

The incumbent, Bellows Falls native Tom Salmon, ran as a Democrat in 2006, was re-elected in 2008 while on active duty with the Naval Reserve in Iraq, and switched to the Republican Party in 2009. He’s received more attention for his personal foibles, such as a drunk driving arrest last year and the alleged use of state resources for his re-election campaign, than he has for the work his office has done over the past four years.

The challenger, Doug Hoffer of Burlington, is running as a Democrat and as a Progressive. He is a public policy analyst who has never held elective office and is little known by Vermonters who aren’t political junkies or policy wonks. He has a reputation for blunt talk and an uncompromising approach to his work.

Read more

http://www.commonsnews.org/site/site02/story.php?articleno=2453&page=1

Press release: vtdigger.com

October 18, 2010

BURLINGTON – The Vermont Democratic Party today called on Republican State Auditor Tom Salmon to return two improper political campaign contributions, including one from a county sheriff whom Salmon audits. The Democratic Party also criticized Salmon for accepting a contribution from a partner in a firm that does work for the State Auditor.

“Everyone but Tom Salmon knows that the Vermont State Auditor should never take a penny from the people he audits,” said Paul Tencher, coordinated campaign manager for the Vermont Democratic Party. “It’s clear that the Republican State Auditor still does not understand the concept of conflict of interest. The amount of money involved for Tom Salmon in accepting these donations may not be that large, but the principle is. By accepting money from people you audit, such as a Sheriff, or the people bidding on your contracts, you create the perception that perhaps you’re acting on behalf of a private interest rather than the public interest.”

Read more

http://vtdigger.org/2010/10/18/tencher-salmon-accepts-improper-campaign-cash/