Dispute Over Signing of Audits Settled

An official with the state Board of Accountancy said Thursday that Ventura County Auditor-Controller Thomas O. Mahon is authorized to sign county audits, settling an earlier dispute between Mahon and the regulatory agency.

An investigator with the Board of Accountancy notified Mahon in June that he was not authorized to sign county audits because he was not a certified public accountant.

But since then Mahon has contacted the board and the attorney general’s office to get a clarification of the law.

Thursday, Dick Poladian, president of the Board of Accountancy, said after reviewing Mahon’s case a second time the board determined that he is legally authorized to sign audits.

Poladian said business code sections governing the practice of public accountancy are intended to apply only to those accountants who provide direct services to the public for compensation.

He said a county auditor, on the other hand, is an elected official who does not serve the public directly but rather carries out specific duties mandated by statute and the Board of Supervisors.

Mahon, who was appointed auditor-controller in January, 1993, after serving 21 years as assistant auditor, is running for election to the $124,000-a-year post. His opponent is accountant Richard Morrisset.

The issue of Mahon’s ability to sign audits was raised by another campaign rival in the June primary.

Although Mahon passed the CPA exam, he did not complete the field work necessary to receive his certification. But Mahon said his experience in the auditor’s office more than qualifies him for the job.

Mahon said he is relieved the issue has been cleared up. “It was only because of the election,” Mahon said. “It was just somebody trying to make some problems.”