Maine committee holds combined hearing on multiple bills to let voters elect constitutional officers and the state auditor

Augusta, Maine — The Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government on Monday held a combined public hearing on about 11 bills that would change how Maine selects several constitutional officers and the state auditor, with proponents urging greater accountability and opponents warning of politicization and campaign costs.

Committee members arranged a single, combined hearing to allow witnesses to testify once for all related proposals. Representative Sue Salisbury presented LD 1052, a resolution to amend the Constitution of Maine to make the office of state auditor a constitutional office. "The Auditor would be chosen quadrinally by a joint ballot of the Senators and Representatives in the Convention," Salisbury said in opening remarks. Salisbury identified the bill as submitted on behalf of Maine State Auditor Mat Dunlap.

Mat Dunlap, who identified himself as State Auditor, told the committee that "auditor independence is really a cornerstone of the work and of objectivity." Dunlap said placing the auditor in the constitution would protect the office's independence over time and cited historical precedent for making other offices constitutional.

Representative Billy Bob Faulkingham, who said he sponsored a package of bills, told the committee "Maine is one of a few states in the country where our constitutional officers and state auditor are appointed by the…