POLITICS

NM State Auditor candidate Brian Colón targets waste and corruption

Democrat faces Rep. Bill McCamley in June 5 primary

Algernon D'Ammassa
The Deming Headlight
Brian Colón spoke about his distinctive insignia and his campaign for NM State Auditor during a stop in Deming on May 25.

DEMING – Brian Colón describes the insignia that appears on all of his campaign literature and his campaign trailer as "a shield to protect the taxpayers."

Colón said he helped design the crest, which incorporates an echo of New Mexico's Spanish colonial history, his personal fondness for rosette designs, and the state's Zia symbol (for which he said he sought permission from the Zia Pueblo, out of respect for their traditions). 

The 48-year-old Albuquerque attorney, a former chair of the state Democratic Party and past candidate for lieutenant governor and Albuquerque mayor, is seeking the Democratic nomination for the state auditor's office. He will face state Rep. Bill McCamley of Las Cruces in the June 5 primary.

The New Mexico State Auditor's Office checks the finances of government agencies, local governments, school districts, and other entities receiving taxpayer money. Under Tim Keller, the office also audited untested sexual assault evidence collection kits.

Whereas Democratic rival McCamley advocates a more expansive role for the state auditor in promoting policies such as retrofitting public buildings for solar power, Colón focuses on "waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption," a phrase he utters as if it were a single, distasteful word. 

MORE: Brian Colón jumps into auditor's race

During an interview at the Headlight newsroom, Colón said he was pained that public service is not more highly esteemed, and that instances of government corruption in New Mexico are met with resignation. "I don't want that to be our story anymore," he said. 

Colón openly suggested that an "inherent conflict of interest" exists between the legislature and governor's office and a fully independent state auditor. 

"We had a $3.8 million budget four years ago," he said,  "and the governor and the legislature have slashed it by 10 percent to $3.4 million. We've got 31 employees, a 10 percent vacancy rate. We're dying on the vine."

He said it begs the question of whether state officials are willing to invest resources in rooting out corruption. "Do they really want me looking under the hood? Do they really want to give me the resources required to identify those areas of concern, where there are a lack of controls to make sure the taxpayers are protected?"

MORE: New Mexico auditor candidates see new possibilities for post

If elected, Colón said he plans to spend a lot of time on the road, visiting communities to raise awareness of the office including the state fraud hotline (866-OSA-FRAUD), and letting people know the state will protect whistleblowers. Without tips, Colón compared rooting out abuse to finding a needle in a haystack. 

With greater awareness of the office, Colón also to build public pressure for enhanced funding for the state auditor. 

"It's incredible what's been done over the last 12 years in spite of a lack of resources," said Colón. "If you appropriately staff and fund that office, what could be done?" 

Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2608) or adammassa@demingheadlight.com.

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