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Tim Pugmire
St. Paul, Minn.

Employee in state auditor's office making run for top position

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An employee in the state auditor's office has announced that he's running to replace his boss.

Jeff Wiita, a certified public accountant from Minnetonka, held a news conference Wednesday to say he's seeking the Republican endorsement for state auditor.

Wiita wants to unseat incumbent Rebecca Otto, a DFLer who will likely seek her second term in 2010. Wiita said Minnesota has never before elected a CPA as auditor, which he compares to electing an attorney general who is not a lawyer.

"You don't even have to have a degree in accounting," he said. "You don't even have to go to college to become the state auditor. I want to try to elevate the profession, elevate the state auditor's office to a professional level as a CPA."

Wiita acknowledged that his political challenge of Otto will be probably cause some awkwardness in the office during the coming months. Otto said there have been many excellent, well-respected state auditors who were not CPAs.

She said it's up to the Legislature to address changes in the job qualifications.