Delaware’s next General Election is still over a year away, but a surprise filing with the Department of Elections today made it very interesting. Kathleen Davies, the former Chief Administrative Auditor for State Auditor Thomas Wagner, is running for the elected position in 2018 as an Independent. To say this isn’t huge news would be an understatement. While Davies cannot publicly talk about why she was run out of the office in the Spring of 2016, the fact she is running for the State Auditor title shows there was definitely some funny business with her ouster.
I wrote extensively about the situations around her removal last year. I always knew there was more to it. The News Journal wrote a story involving Ann Visali and travel expenses that never made a lick of sense.
Tom Wagner, who has held the position of State Auditor for the last three decades, has not announced his intention to run again. A couple of weeks ago, former State Rep. Dennis Williams announced he would run but nothing has been heard about that since.
I know, without a moment of hesitation, that Kathleen Davies will get my vote on Election Day in 2018. Without a doubt in my mind. She is easily the most qualified and her resume involving work with state audit agencies goes beyond Delaware, to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I firmly believe Davies will one day be vindicated for the horrible treatment she received in the Spring of 2016. But even better, it is my fervent hope she will see that vindication while holding the office of State Auditor.
Change is needed in the Auditor’s office. That change was there when Davies held the title of Senior Audit Manager. She was the first to conduct audit investigations against Delaware charter schools. From Delaware Military Academy, to Academy of Dover, Family Foundations Academy, and Providence Creek Academy. The last big audit she had a major role in was a September 30th Count audit inspection which found some pretty glaring errors with a few charters. That report was pulled from the State Auditor website the same time Davies was placed on administrative leave. Wagner released a new report a few months later but the actual procedures from the first audit were not used in the second report.
I can imagine some in the Delaware education world will begin rolling up their sleeves when they hear this news. My suggestion to the people of Delaware: ignore them. If you want an auditor who will serve that office above and beyond and believes in their work 100%, that person is Davies.
Kathleen Davies for Delaware State Auditor 2018!!!!!
The Season Of Myths 