Jack Wagner, a state senator since 1994,
Vietnam veteran, father of two, and 2002
lieutenant governor candidate, is now a
candidate for auditor general. He is the only
person running with a laid out, five-point
plan for what he will do if elected. Some of
the goals include to “conduct financial audits
to ensure fiscal accountability and emphasize
performance audits to examine program
effectiveness” and to “work with other public
officials to implement audit recommendations.”
Called “your independent watchdog in
Harrisburg” on his website, Wagner has had a
long political career and wanted to represent
Pennsylvanians as auditor general partly
because of enjoying what it was like as Bob
Casey, Jr.’s running mate in 2002.
“That race gave me a taste of statewide
politics and created an opportunity for me to
run statewide myself this year. The Auditor
General is an important position in state
government, someone who is entrusted with
watching over how the government spends the
public’s tax dollars. I believe that I am
uniquely qualified to serve in that position,
and would consider it a privilege to do so.”
Outside of politics, Wagner says he is very
dedicated to his family, especially his
children.
“As parents, Nancy and I are very involved in
our children’s daily lives, from helping them
with their homework to participating in
various school activities. My son is an avid
fisherman, and I enjoy spending time outdoors
with him and the rest of my family.”
Q: Why did you first decide to run for auditor
general? Was it something you had been
thinking about for some time?
A: I am running for Auditor General to
protect the taxpayers’ hard-earned money and
to improve the lives of all Pennsylvanians. I
am excited about the opportunity to use my
thirty years of experience in the public and
private sectors as your independent watchdog
in Harrisburg.
Although I had always
been aware of the position of Auditor General,
I learned much more about it when I ran for
Lieutenant Governor in 2002 as the hand-picked
running mate of Auditor General Bob Casey,
Jr. I am proud of my strong second-place
finish in the Lieutenant Governor primary.
That race gave me a taste of statewide
politics and created an opportunity for me to
run statewide myself this year. The Auditor
General is an important position in state
government, someone who is entrusted with
watching over how the government spends the
public’s tax dollars. I believe that I am
uniquely qualified to serve in that position,
and would consider it a privilege to do so.
Q: Your website calls you “the only candidate
with a specific plan for the office.” Have
many people taken notice of it? What do they
think of each goal?
A: When I launched my campaign for Auditor
General last fall, I outlined a comprehensive
five-point plan for the Department of the
Auditor General. I was the first – and still
the only – candidate to put forth such a
plan. Under my leadership, the Department of
the Auditor General will:
Conduct financial audits
to ensure fiscal accountability and emphasize
performance audits to examine program
effectiveness;
Promote innovative
reforms to reduce the cost of government;
Work with other public
officials to implement audit recommendations;
Fight for the public’s
interest in Harrisburg; and
Serve as an example for
other government agencies.
I have received very
positive responses to my plan. My plan has
been endorsed by the incumbent, Auditor
General Bob Casey, Jr. It has also been
endorsed by numerous other public officials
with first-hand experience as independent
fiscal watchdogs, including Allegheny County
Executive Dan Onorato, who is the former
controller of Allegheny County, and State Rep.
Ed Wojnaroski, who is the former controller of
Johnstown and former ten-year president of the
Pennsylvania City Controller’s Association. I
look forward to implementing this plan as
Auditor General.
Q: Why should people vote for you? What is
the most important idea you are taking to
Harrisburg?
A: I have 30 years of experience in the
public and private sectors watching the bottom
line, improving the effectiveness and
efficiency of operations, and fighting to
protect working families. I used that
experience to develop my comprehensive
five-point plan for the Department of the
Auditor General.
The most important idea that I
will take with me is my belief that
bipartisanship and hard work are the keys to
achieving positive results for Pennsylvania
families. While I will serve as an
independent watchdog in identifying problems,
I will work in a bipartisan fashion to
implement solutions. My record in state and
local government shows my ability to reach
across party lines to get things done.
Q: When you are out campaigning, what are the
types of comments you get from people?
A: I am grateful for the overwhelmingly
positive response to my campaign. Voters want
someone who will be their independent
watchdog, but who is experienced in the
workings of state and local government. They
also want someone who can continue the success
that the Department of the Auditor General has
had under the leadership of Bob Casey, Jr. He
has earned a reputation statewide and
nationally as an aggressive fiscal watchdog
for taxpayers and as an advocate for working
families, children, and seniors. I am proud
that he has endorsed my candidacy, and look
forward to building on his impressive record.
Q: Aside from the issues, how do you want to
be seen as a person? What are some things
that are significant in your life, such as
family, hobbies, etc.?
A: I have tried to dedicate my life to
serving my community – whether it was as a
combat Marine during the Vietnam War, as a
paramedic during college, as a safety
consultant in the private sector ensuring that
businesses provide safe working environments
for their employees, or as an elected city and
state official.
However, my most important
responsibilities have always been as a husband
and father. My wife, Nancy, and I will be
celebrating our twenty-second wedding
anniversary this year. We are the proud
parents of Luke, who is fifteen years old, and
Sara, who is ten. As parents, Nancy and I are
very involved in our children’s daily lives,
from helping them with their homework to
participating in various school activities.
My son is an avid fisherman, and I enjoy
spending time outdoors with him and the rest
of my family.
Q: You are currently serving in the State
Senate. With your experience in Harrisburg,
do you find that people trust you more knowing
what your voting record is like? What parts
of the office will help you if you are elected
auditor general?
A: I believe that my experience in state
and local government is an asset, both in
terms of demonstrating that I can get things
done and illustrating what issues are
important to me.
As a Pittsburgh City Councilman
and Council President, I reformed city
government operations and enacted balanced
budgets for ten straight years. Because city
leaders have since driven the city into the
red, I recently helped write and pass a new
state law creating an independent fiscal
oversight board for the city. In the Senate,
I also led the fights to fund early childhood
education with state dollars for the first
time and expand prescription drug coverage for
seniors. My audits will focus on the issues
that I have worked on during my entire career
– creating jobs, improving access to health
care, strengthening education, improving
Pennsylvania’s infrastructure, and
strengthening our economy.
Politics
Today 
Politics
Today:
Jack Wagner (D) for Pennsylvania State
Auditor