Candidates for WA auditor vow to restore office’s credibility

SEATTLE (AP) - Restoring the credibility of the Washington State Auditor's Office tops the list of priorities for those seeking to replace departing Auditor Troy Kelley, whose term was marred by his federal fraud indictment and seven-month leave of absence.

Democratic Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, Democratic Seattle lawyer Jeff Sprung and Republican state Sen. Mark Miloscia are the leading candidates to replace Kelley. Forensic accountant Mark Wilson, of Bellevue, and engineer David Golden, of Spokane, are also running but have raised little to no money.

Former longtime state Auditor Brian Sonntag has endorsed Sprung, citing Sprung's history of working with whistleblowers to recover misspent government money. But he says all three leading candidates are "quality people."

A federal jury deadlocked on most of the counts against Kelley during his trial this year. Federal prosecutors say they plan to try him again next year.