New Mexico State Auditor

The state auditor of New Mexico is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of New Mexico. Twenty-eight individuals have held the office of state auditor since statehood. The incumbent is Joseph Maestas, a Democrat.

State Auditor of New Mexico
Seal of New Mexico
Incumbent
Joseph Maestas
since January 1, 2023
Term lengthFour years
Formation1912
First holderWilliam Sargent
WebsiteAuditor of New Mexico
Politics of New Mexico
Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary

See also:
Elections
Inferior jurisdictions
Federal representation

Eligibility and term of office

No person may be elected state auditor other than a United States citizen of at least 30 years of age who has resided continuously in New Mexico for five years preceding the election.[1] The state auditor is elected to a four-year term and is able to serve up to two consecutive terms; more terms may be served after one full term has intervened.[2]

Powers and duties

The state auditor assures that the financial affairs of New Mexico's 1,000-plus local governments and state agencies are thoroughly examined and audited each year and may conduct, in whole or part, audits of any of the aforesaid public bodies at any time. Pursuant to this authority, the state auditor performs annual financial audits of public bodies or approves contracts entered into effect by public bodies with independent public accounting firms, otherwise known as "IPAs". Whenever an annual financial audit is performed by an independent public accounting firm rather than the Office of the State Auditor, the state auditor performs desk reviews of IPA audits for compliance with the Audit Rule promulgated by the Office of the State Auditor. In addition, the state auditor conducts special investigations of fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds or resources; collects, analyzes, and issues reports on state agency and local government audit data; and serves as an ex officio member of the State Commission of Public Records. The state auditor is sixth in the line of succession to the governor's office after the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House, and the attorney general. In the performance of official duties, the state auditor may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and records.[3][4]

List of state auditors
# Name Took office Left office Party Years in office
1 William Sargent 1912 1918 Republican 7[note 1]
2 Edward Sargent 1919 1920 Republican 2
3 Edward Safford 1921 1922 Republican 2
4 Juan Vigil 1923 1926 Democratic 4
5 Miguel Otero III 1927 1928 Republican 2
6 Victoriano Ulibarrí 1929 1930 Republican 2
7 Arsenio Velarde 1931 1934 Democratic 4
8 José García 1935 1938 Democratic 4
9 E. D. Trujillo 1939 1942 Democratic 4
10 J. D. Hannah 1943 1946 Democratic 4
11 E. D. Trujillo 1947 1950 Democratic 4
12 Robert Castner 1951 1954 Democratic 4
13 J. D. Hannah 1955 1957 Democratic 3[note 2]
14 Ben Chávez 1957 1958 Republican 2[note 3]
15 Robert Castner 1959 1962 Democratic 4
16 Alex Armijo 1963 1966 Democratic 4
17 Harold Thompson 1967 1970 Republican 4
18 Frank Olmstead 1971 1974 Democratic 4
19 Max Sánchez 1975 1978 Democratic 4[note 4]
20 Alvino Castillo 1978 1982 Democratic 5[note 5]
21 Albert Romero 1983 1986 Democratic 4
22 Harroll Adams 1987 1990 Democratic 4
23 Robert E. Vigil 1991 1998 Democratic 8
24 Domingo Martinez 1999 2006 Democratic 8
25 Hector Balderas 2007 2014 Democratic 8
26 Tim Keller 2015 2017 Democratic 3[note 6]
27 Wayne Johnson 2017 2019 Republican 1[note 7]
28 Brian Colón 2019 2023 Democratic 4
29 Joseph Maestas 2023 present Democratic

Notes
  1. Since the first state election was in an odd-numbered year (1911), the term lasted five years.
  2. Died in office in July 1957.
  3. Appointed by Governor Mechem on August 12, 1957.
  4. Resigned on April 11, 1978.
  5. Appointed by Governor Apodaca in April 1978.
  6. Resigned on November 30, 2017.
  7. Appointed by Governor Martinez on December 1, 2017.

References
  1. "Article V, Section 3, Constitution of New Mexico". New Mexico Compilation Commission. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  2. "About NMOSA". New Mexico Office of the State Auditor. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  3. 2015-2016 New Mexico Blue Book, Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State, p. 192-193
  4. "About the Office of the State Auditor". New Mexico Office of the State Auditor. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
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