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McCuskey will be good for state

Much of what West Virginia’s state auditor does is rather ho-hum stuff for most of us. Among other things, the auditor serves on state boards involving money management, handles the state payroll, oversees auditing and accounting at local entities such as county commissions and boards of education.

But one other function is of critical importance to Mountain State residents: The auditor is our window into how our tax dollars are spent, both in Charleston and at the local level.

That is why John “J.B.” McCuskey should be elected state auditor on Nov. 8.

McCuskey, now a House of Delegates member from Kanawha County, has an excellent idea — or, rather, is smart enough to want to borrow it. It comes from Ohio.

As Buckeye State residents are aware, the Ohiocheckbook.com program provides them with an exhaustive look into government finances at the state level and at many participating local entities ranging from municipalities to school boards. If you are a West Virginian unfamiliar with the system, go to the website and check it out. You probably will be impressed.

McCuskey visited Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, whose office handles the program, earlier this year, and went away impressed. He hopes to establish something similar in West Virginia.

Transparency and accountability are among McCuskey’s campaign pledges. To them he adds efficient use of taxpayers’ dollars.

For many years, Glen Gainer served as auditor. One reason he cited for stepping down was that he did not want to become “stagnant” in the office.

Clearly, Gainer himself recognizes the need for change in the auditor’s office. McCuskey can provide just the new approach West Virginians need.

The Weirton Daily Times endorses McCuskey for state auditor and recommends voters choose him for the office.

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