Keating endorses Byrd for Auditor

GOVERNOR FRANK KEATING ENDORSES CINDY BYRD FOR STATE AUDITOR

    Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating today announces his endorsement of Cindy Byrd, CPA, for the post of State Auditor & Inspector.  In announcing his endorsement, Keating pointed to Byrd as a proven conservative, a staunch advocate for transparency and accountability, and the only candidate in the race for State Auditor with government auditing experience.

     “The reality is, now more than ever, people want to know how their tax dollars are being spent,” Gov. Keating says. “In Cindy Byrd, voters can feel confident she has the background, leadership abilities, and real world auditing experience the job demands and the people expect.  As Deputy State Auditor, Cindy has demonstrated her ability to work with county government officials to cooperatively improve transparency and accountability across all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. While Cindy prefers a handshake to a hammer, she has zealously worked on behalf of taxpayers to identify fraud, waste, and abuse of tax dollars when corruption by a few public officials was identified. She doesn’t shy away from the tough assignments.  Cindy Byrd is easily the only qualified candidate for this office. She is the right candidate at the right time and she will do an excellent job as the people’s watchdog.”

    In response to this endorsement, Cindy Byrd says, “I am extremely grateful to Governor Keating for his confidence in me. The State Auditor is the truest form of public service because the job isn’t about politics —  it’s about holding public officials accountable in the expenditure of taxpayer funds. We want to work with those responsible for governing to be successful in delivering government services effectively, efficiently, and openly. I have the strength of my conservative convictions and my background in government auditing means I’m the only candidate in this race who won’t need on-the-job training. From day one, Oklahomans will know they have a voice that understands the job, has the credentials to accomplish its responsibilities, and the leadership abilities to bring people together for the common good. I’m not divisive, I’m determined.”

    Cindy Byrd is the current Deputy State Auditor for Local Government Services, and has worked for the State Auditor's office for 21 years. Cindy Byrd is a CPA, and member of the Oklahoma State Society of CPAs, American Institute of CPAs, and member of the American Board of Forensic Accountants. Specifically tasked by the State Auditor & Inspector with auditing local and county government, Cindy Byrd stepped in and oversaw operations that cleared a five-year backlog of audits, exposed waste and corruption, and even in the last fiscal year oversaw 304 of the 411 audits published by the agency. Her expertise in the 77 county operations will allow her to step in on day one, and be ready to manage an effective auditor's office that is the guardian of taxpayer funds.

    The Republican primary election takes place on June 26, and the general election on November 6, 2018. For more information on Cindy Byrd, please visit www.CindyByrd.com or on Facebook: /ByrdforAuditor