Interview: Helen Knipe Smith (D) for State Auditor for Ohio

By: Joe Urban 

1. What distinguishes you from your opponents?

My background is in local and county government with years of activism
in working with governmental and private social service agencies as well as
school systems.  These are the primary areas of responsibility of the State
Auditor.

As a  member of Cleveland City Council, I vice chaired the Finance
Committee during the City’s comeback after default. For the past four years, I served on the tax appeal board for the Cuyahoga County Auditor and worked with 32 local governments as director of an innovative linked deposit loan program. I have a complete understanding of the difficulty of balancing budgets especially when federal and state governments pass unfunded mandates and serious tax changes that impact our local government functions.



2.   How long have you been involved in politics?

Our family dinner table was always lively with a discussion of politics and current events, but I didn’t get active supporting candidates until college. I didn’t run for office until I moved into an inner city neighborhood and kept asking why are things like this?  Who is responsible? That was in 1970. After supporting candidates for local
and state offices, I was appointed to City Council in 1979.

3.  Do you remember the first time you voted? 

 I voted absentee as I was away at school and it was a municipal election with all incumbents running.


4.   What is the greatest challenge of public service?

There are two: To remain humble despite the trappings of public office
remembering to listen to those who put you into office.
To maintain integrity  in a system that encourages pay to play politics.


5.   What is the most important issue in facing the State of Ohio?

The loss of jobs and subsequent revenue in a State tied to a rust belt
economy and the lack of dynamic thinking to solve this problem.


6.   What advice would you give someone thinking of running for public
office?

If your desire is to help people, there are few other careers where you are
able to do this so directly but you and your family will sacrifice your
privacy, very often financial security and time together.  The most
important thing you bring with you to a campaign is your family’s unselfish
support.  Make sure you have it before you run.


7.  What was your first car?  

A Volkswagon Beetle.  In those days it was one
of the least expensive cars one could buy.


8.   What was your favorite subject in High School?  

Civics, History


9.   How did you become involved in the (D) Party?

The Democratic Party is closest to espousing the same principles and
issues that mirror mine and the candidates I helped get elected were all Democrats.

10.   How will your years on City Council help as State Auditor?

A Councilman in Cleveland Ohio is an ombudsman, legislator and an extension
of the administration.  The Council member is also the closest elected
official to the voter and is first to receive complaints about everything
and anything and is the first asked to solve all manner of constituent
problems.   Eighteen years of providing these services has familiarized me with all levels of state and federal government as well as the myriad of agencies
associated with all levels of government.

As a Council member I served on every Committee of Council and dealt with public utilities, international airport, transportation systems, federal grant awards, municipal finances, capital municipal financing, human resources, internal auditing, annual financial reports, budgeting, provision of municipal services, pension systems, collective bargaining, local and regional planning agencies—the list could go on
for pages.

This background is an excellent one to bring to the State Auditor position.



11.  Will the U.S. invade Iraq by December 2002?

My hope and prayer would be that every alternative to invasion would be
explored before this country sends our young people into this war.


12.  If you were the State Auditor today, what would be your first order of
business?

Meet with Staff throughout the State with a goal of obtaining suggestions on
operations and being briefed on all current activities. Assure adequate representation on all pension boards that the Auditor is responsible for.


13. Why should the citizens of the State of Ohio Elect you on Nov. 5th,
2002?

They would elect a person with an outstanding record of public service
over the past 22 years who will guard their tax dollars without regard
to special interests and political considerations and who will work
aggressively to see that tax dollars are not squandered or misused.


13. What are your feelings on the recent Corporate downfalls of Enron and
Worldcom? Will this affect your job as State Auditor?

My feeling was and is one of anger and disappointment that corporate America would endanger our entire economic system because of unfettered greed.  For those who lost their jobs, their pensions, their investments, their savings, there will never again be trust. For the public sector, it is also a warning bell.  In my 5 point plan
for the Ohio Auditor’s office, I call for reconstituting the Auditor Advisory Committee to completely review procedures and the general auditing principles presently followed. We must assure that the present system provides an accurate picture of our public funding systems.