This constitutional officer conducts performance audits to help ensure that the state’s money is being properly managed and spent. The current auditor, Doug Hoffer, a Democrat, was first elected in 2012. He is not seeking reelection.
Tim Ashe
Burlington, timashe.com
Deputy state auditor since 2021; past state senator; president of the Community Health Centers board of directors
How does the auditor’s office benefit Vermont?
By making sure taxpayer funds are spent efficiently and holding every agency accountable to deliver high-quality services to Vermonters.
How would you strengthen the detection of fraud, waste and abuse in state government?
By aggressively using the existing tools of the office to root out fraud, waste and abuse and deploying the office’s analytic resources toward four key objectives – lowering health care premiums; supporting cost-effective approaches for new housing that’s affordable; reducing unacceptably high property taxes; and revitalizing rural communities.
What is the biggest barrier to government accountability in Vermont today?
There are many — bad data, tepid enthusiasm for performance measurement, churn in key jobs, instability caused by President Donald Trump. The biggest for me, though, is insufficient commitment to excellent management from leaders. I’ll be on a mission to promote a culture of excellence in state government. It’s what Vermonters deserve.
What experience best prepares you to analyze Vermont’s finances?
For the past five years as deputy auditor I have overseen the state’s annual comprehensive financial reports and the audits of Vermont’s use of all federal funds. I’ve also supervised nearly 30 performance audits. My legislative appropriations and finance experience gives me fluency in state budgeting and programs.
Nicholas Graeter
Williston, nickforvt.com
Accounting specialist
How does the auditor’s office benefit Vermont?
It provides Vermonters with an unbiased, factual look at how state government is functioning and where it falls short.
How would you strengthen the detection of fraud, waste and abuse in state government?
With limited resources, we must crowdsource tips. I will use modern tools like social media video to communicate directly with Vermonters and drive traffic to our tip lines. Hearing directly from citizens about suspected issues is how we will narrow our focus and deliver real results.
What is the biggest barrier to government accountability in Vermont today?
Communication. An audit is useless if taxpayers and voters never hear about it. Without a robust strategy to reach Vermonters where they are, citizens cannot hold elected officials accountable. The biggest hurdle is the lack of modern outreach connecting the results of audits directly to people’s tax dollars.
What experience prepared you to analyze Vermont’s finances?
Analyzing finances relies on the GAGAS-trained auditors on staff, but accountability requires communication. For over a decade, I’ve created digital content accumulating over 100 million views. My expertise in viewer engagement is the asset needed to bring creative social content to Vermonters who traditionally feel left out of the fold.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A third candidate, Dan Towle, confirmed to Seven Days that he had dropped out of the race. He will still appear on the ballot, however.
This article appears in 2026 Primary Election Voters’ Guide.
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