Illuzzi officially kicks off campaign for auditor in Barre

Senator Vince Illuzzi returned to his hometown of Barre today, to announce his plans to seek the office of state auditor.
Along with more than fifty supporters from across the political divide, Illuzzi was joined by Senator Dick Mazza, Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon, current State Auditor Tom Salmon, Dean of the Senate Bill Doyle, Lt. Governor Phil Scott, and wife of George Akin, Lola Akin, who Illuzzi has known since his start in Vermont politics. All attended to support Illuzzi’s campaign for auditor.
‘The Auditor’s Office drives government improvement,’Illuzzi said. ‘When you improve performance, you make people’s lives a little better. ‘
‘I have come to know Vermont law and finance inside and out. Most important, I have worked with and listened to the concerns of Vermonters from Derby Line to Bennington,’he said. ‘I know how to make government work better for working Vermonters.’
Illuzzi said he will use a ‘bread and butter’approach to auditing the state’s finances. ‘We will do the audits required by law.’
My reviews will be guided by three questions. First, were the funds spent as directed by the General Assembly? Second, were they used as efficiently and effectively as possible? Third, are the intended beneficiaries being adequately served by the expenditures?’
In addition to overseeing the annual audits of state and federal funds, Illuzzi said he plans to take a close look at Vermont’s system of controls over payroll, benefits and employee expenses that total more than $600 million each year. And Illuzzi said Vermont must continue to exercise oversight in the planning, implementation, and testing of information technology systems to ensure they have adequate capacity and controls.
Additionally, Illuzzi said that the state funds hundreds of contracts and thousands of grants each year for goods and services that range from building roads and bridges, to creating housing, to providing childcare and services to seniors.
‘How are we doing?’he asked. ‘Are Vermonters better off?’
The state senator said that as state auditor, he would build on his trademark reputation for hard work, innovation, and working across party lines to get things done.
Illuzzi said that whether rebuilding after Tropical Storm Irene, creating good jobs, or providing health care, Vermonters expect elected officials to ‘see past ideology and put people first.’
‘I tend to think of the road crew member, the school nurse, the cop on the beat, entrepreneurs who are paying the bills,’he said. ‘This is their government. Are they getting their money’s worth?’he asked. ‘I plan to make sure that the answer is yes.’
The announcement was held at the Vermont Granite Museum in Barre formerly a granite shed that he helped to preserve from demolition and in which his father carved granite sculptures that are located across America.
Illuzzi’s father ‘a sculptor -- worked and raised his family in the Barre-Montpelier area.
Sen. Illuzzi was first elected to the Vermont Senate at the age of 27, and served 32 years in the Senate and concurrently for 14 years as Essex County state’s attorney. Elected as both a Republican and a Democrat, the senator has deep ties to Vermont’s people and places, both of which have helped shape his years of service and his decision to run for state auditor.