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GOP State Auditor candidate has active CPA license

Staff photo by Fritz Busch State Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska) addresses the Brown County Republican FunRaiser at the New Ulm Community Center Thursday night.

NEW ULM — The Republican candidate for Minnesota State Auditor said she thinks it’s about time the official has some credentials for the job.

“My opponent is a junior high math teacher with no background or credentials to be state auditor,” Pam Myhra said at the Brown County Republican FunRaiser at the New Ulm Community Center Thursday night.

In addition, Myhra said at least $250,000 is missing from Dakota County’s low-income housing program.

Under her leadership as Minnesota State Auditor, Myhra said her office would perform single audits of federal grant money as it is empowered to do under Minnesota Statute 6.515 Audit of Federal Money in accordance with Uniform guidance, or will perform quality assurance reviews of those conducting single audits.

Myhra, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with an active license, said effective financial audits and performance reviews, with appropriate assessment and testing of internal controls, are crucial for giving accountability and transparency for the use of government resources, tax dollars.

A former two-term state representative serving Burnsville and Savage and former audit manager at KPMG, an international public accounting firm, Myhra said she carried two legislative bills creating government transparency that passed due to her ability to build consensus and agreement.

Myhra said she feels even members of opposing parties can have a change of heart at election time.

“It’s great when people put aside labels and look at the candidate,” Myhra said. “I’m committed, but I need your support.”

U.S. Senate candidate Jim Newberger, a North Minneapolis paramedic/EMT who commutes from Becker, said for about a decade, millions of Minnesotans had no voice in the Senate due to two far-left Minnesota senators.

“Folks, it’s time you had a voice in Washington, D.C.,” Newberger said. “Amy Klobuchar has to go, period. She’s pro-abortion, anytime, anyplace. I’m pro-life. Obamacare is socialized medicine. It doesn’t work and it won’t work. Medicare for all will cost $32 trillion. Our national debt is $25 trillion… When people tell you taxes kill, it’s true. Taxes kill.”

Minnesota Rep. Paul Torkelson of Hanska, Transportation Committee Chairman, credited Newberger for quickly tending to Gov. Mark Dayton when he fainted during a speech at the State Capitol.

“Our opponents are really excited,” Torkelson said. “I see their signs up. We have a chance to have a Republican governor and take the Minnesota House and Senate this year. It won’t happen unless you and your neighbors get out and vote. Gov. Dayton was a do-nothing governor this year. This will go much better next year with Jeff Johnson as governor.”

Torkelson said there is a very small number of farmers left in the Legislature and even less that actually raise livestock.

“You need a manure application permit for your livestock,” Torkelson said. “You know what folks, there’s a whole lot more people in St. Paul that need one (manure application permit).”

Minnesota Sen. Gary Dahms, Redwood Falls, said if Republicans don’t retain control of the U.S. Senate and House, it could change the balance at the federal level.

“We have some real health care issues with costs up two and one-half times and less people insured now,” Dahms said. “If we don’t get Johnson-(Donna) Bergstrom in the (Minnesota) governor’s office, we could end up with recreational marijuana and single-payer health care. Putting everyone on Medicare will wreck it.”

Dahms said the general election is important to keep Minnesota a good place to live, work and play. He encouraged everyone to vote and support candidates.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@njournal.com.

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