State Auditor
About this race: Democratic incumbent Brian Sonntag has been state government's top financial watchdog since 1992. He's facing Republican J. Richard McEntee, an investment consultant, for the job. A recent citizens' initiative increased the position's powers, allowing the state auditor to look beyond government agencies' books via "performance audits." These in-depth reviews look at how well public agencies are doing their work. Sonntag's performance audits have recommended hundreds of millions of dollars in changes and potential savings so far. Sonntag has also been an outspoken advocate for open government.
Constituency: State of Washington
Salary: $114,657 per year
