Sundstrom for Auditor

The importance of the job of county auditor-controller was demonstrated by the Orange County bankruptcy. An auditor who was on the ball, who warned loudly of the dangerous fiscal practices that were occurring, might have warded off the fiscal calamity of December 1994.

Instead, the supervisors lost so much confidence in the county auditor that they created the position of internal auditor. The man the supervisors appointed to that position was David E. Sundstrom. He is now seeking the publicly elected post and deserves to get it.

By state statute, the county auditor ensures that the money in county cash accounts is really there. The controller role involves handling that money: paying travel claims, processing checks and performing other accounting procedures.

In practice, the department, with nearly 400 workers, has far more varied functions and is important, if little-known.

Sundstrom and his staff of two dozen have been called on by the Board of Supervisors to review both the finances and the performance of entities such as the county’s housing department. As the bankruptcy unfortunately demonstrated, county departments need critiques from outsiders. Questionable practices can be identified and corrected. Lessons learned elsewhere can be imported.

Although the auditor-controller can take on tasks requested by the Board of Supervisors, the post is elective and answerable to the public. Sundstrom has the proper insistence on independence; the auditor is there to see that the taxpayers’ money is accounted for. The job should be free from ideology.

Sundstrom has solid credentials, clearly understands the mission of the office he seeks and is good at explaining it. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from the graduate school of management at UC Davis, has worked for a certified public accounting firm, spent nine years as manager of the campus audit department at UC Davis and spent seven years as auditor for the 22-campus Cal State University system.

Anyone elected auditor needs to avoid the mistakes made by the incumbent, Steven E. Lewis, who chose not to run for reelection. Sundstrom is the right choice for a fresh start.