STATE News:
SANTA FE — State Auditor Joseph Maestas has formally announced his campaign for re-election, pledging to continue his fight for accountability, transparency, and innovation in New Mexico’s public entities and officials.
“In my time as State Auditor, we’ve uncovered millions in waste, strengthened fiscal oversight, and made government more transparent than ever,” Maestas said. “But the work is far from over. New Mexico needs urgent, impactful action—and I am more committed than ever to delivering results that matter to every taxpayer.”
Proven Leadership. Tangible Results.
- Accountability & Fiscal Integrity: Led aggressive investigations into fraud, waste, and abuse—partnering with prosecutors and law enforcement to ensure white-collar criminals are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
- Support for Small Communities: Created a highly successful, accelerated, direct assistance program that includes professional oversight and audit assistance to rural and underserved areas, ensuring every small, local public body—not just the largest cities—has the tools to achieve and maintain financial compliance paving the way to access withheld capital outlay, apply for new funding sources, and safeguard public funds.
- Tackling the Accounting Workforce Crisis and CPA Shortage: Building partnerships with New Mexico’s universities and community colleges to create a stronger, more diverse pipeline of future auditors—addressing the statewide shortage of accounting professionals.
- Innovation for the Next Generation
Maestas is driving a forward-looking approach to oversight—modernizing tools, updating laws, and preparing New Mexico’s accounting workforce for the challenges ahead.
- Modernizing Oversight Through Technology Integration: Comprehensive integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics into operations to maximize efficiency of extremely limited staff resources.
- Updating Antiquated Policies and Laws Regarding Financial Compliance: Assessed statutory framework regarding enforcement of financial compliance and recommended a comprehensive update of that framework. Championed the new law (HB 493) – Public Finance Accountability Act, which incentivizes financial compliance and provides greater avenues to access withheld capital outlay and the pursuit of new funding sources.
- Addressing the Accounting Workforce Crisis: Working directly with higher education to transform the experience of college students in accounting to be more engaging. Advocating for the integration of accounting into the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) umbrella. Calling for establishing accounting as a priority area in higher education endowments and an increase in such funding.
A Clear Choice for New Mexico’s Future
“I have seen firsthand how independent, principled oversight changes lives,” Maestas said. “I will continue to strengthen transparency, modernize oversight, and protect every dollar entrusted to government. Together, we can build a smarter, stronger New Mexico.”
Please also find the press release attached.