Cutting Waste, Fraud and Abuse

The Challenge

Taxpayers expect, and rightfully demand, that their dollars will be invested wisely, efficiently, appropriately and, needless to say, legally. 

Moreover, with revenue falling across the board, Ohio faces budget challenges of historic proportions.  Local governments face similar challenges.  In 2010 and beyond, all these governments will face sizeable deficits and/or major financial pressures.  And all at a time that taxpayers can ill afford to pay more in taxes because their own wallets are under great strain.

Which makes identifying all instances of waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government more important than ever.  With all the pressures now facing government, we just can’t afford government to be mismanaged and money to be misspent.  But we know it happens every day.

We need a credible, neutral watchdog to be on the lookout when such waste and fraud take place.

The Auditor’s Role

David Pepper has a track record of fighting waste, abuse and fraud in government since he first entered government.  As a city councilman and county commissioner, David has targeted wasteful and improper contracts and practices, eliminated unnecessary spending by the millions, targeted government perks such as double dipping, cell phones, and take home cars, insisted on transparency and high ethics, and has repeatedly shared in the sacrifice when it comes to his own official salary. 

These approaches have led to real savings.  Under his leadership, the County has reduced spending to the level it was in 1998!  Eliminating expenditures large (multi-million dollar contracts that were bankrupting the county) and small (reducing spending on frivolous purchases and commodities) has saved tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds.

And in a county long known for too much cronyism and political hiring, he has pushed hard to clean up and clarify the ethical rules and principles to be followed by all public employees.

In the Ohio Auditor’s office he will continue his tenacious fight against waste, fraud and abuse. 

First, he will lead by example—by cleaning up the Auditors’ office itself.  He will cut out wasteful and frivolous spending, end the extreme politicization of the office that has undermined its professional credibility and effectiveness, and only hire top-notch and qualified personnel for all positions in the office.  Not political cronies.

David will also be a champion of cleaning up government.  Whether identifying waste and mismanagement, being a champion for transparency and ethics in government, or working in partnership with the Attorney General to root out and prosecute fraud, David understands the incredible trust that citizens give to their government and will ensure that every precious tax dollar is protected and well spent. 

He aims to be the people’s watchdog, rooting out corruption and cronyism, eliminating government waste, and providing Ohioans with the transparency we need to ensure efficient and well-run government.