During a visit to Worthington last week, Rebecca Otto, the DFL-endorsed candidate for state auditor, criticized Republican incumbent Pat Anderson for past accounting errors and bringing partisan politics to the office. She aggressively promoted herself as someone who would be, first and foremost, an advocate for communities across the state if elected, along with being someone Minnesota's citizens could trust.
Otto was on the attack again Tuesday, claiming Anderson's report on Minnesota Special District Finances (released last week) contained more than $201 million in accounting errors. Anderson -- who, according to the Star Tribune, acknowledged in April an error pointed out by Otto in calculating changes in Minnesota counties' fund balances -- denied any errors in her latest report.
So who does one believe?
Anderson's earlier admission to an error pointed out by Otto gives pause, though of course it doesn't automatically signify guilt. It should also be stated that Otto has said she's found no accounting errors in reports issued by previous state auditors Arne Carlson (a Republican), Mark Dayton (DFL), and Judi Dutcher (at the time a Republican, and now the DFL running mate of gubernatorial candidate Mike Hatch). Did Otto really completely review all of those reports? Neither Carlson, Dayton nor Dutcher are running against her for state auditor this November.
The fact of the matter is the race for state auditor -- usually one that ranks low on the interest meter -- is hot this year. Like it or not, it's due to Otto's attacking, negative campaign. We've still got 2 1/2 months to see if those tactics help or harm her.
