1. How does your background qualify you for serving in this office?     

Reeder (D) - Growing up in eastern Kentucky, raised by working class parents, I learned the value of community, and that if you work hard you can build a good life for yourself. I know that government waste and abuse threatens these values and makes it harder for working Kentuckians to get ahead. As a tax lawyer, I have helped taxpayers navigate through complex audits and seek transparency from government officials for over twenty years. From my work as a teacher I understand the power of education to raise awareness of the risks and consequences of waste and abuse and promote a culture of accountability at all levels of government. I’m not a politician and I believe reviewing financial records and ensuring that our government is serving Kentuckians honestly and efficiently shouldn’t be political.

2. What steps have you taken or would you take to fight political corruption in Kentucky?     

Reeder (D) - As Auditor, I would be committed to shining a light on how our tax dollars are spent to eliminate waste and abuse. I would actively and publicly encourage Kentuckians to report waste and abuse at all levels of government. I would energetically pursue reports of suspected waste or abuse and, where potential misconduct is identified, conduct robust investigations. I would build collaborative relationships with law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of fraud so that those responsible for corruption are held accountable and serve as a deterrent to others who might consider similar behavior. More proactively, I would provide training and education to government employees and officials on topics such as ethics, internal controls, and fraud prevention.

3. What steps have you taken or would you take to ensure open, fair and transparent operations of state and local government, schools, and other public institutions?

Reeder (D) - Transparency must be the foundation upon which we build public trust in government. As Auditor, I would actively pursue financial transparency at all levels of government so that citizens can see and understand how public funds are spent. I would also undertake diligent compliance with open records and meetings laws within the Auditor's office itself. Finally, I would use public hearings, town hall meetings, and other forums to give citizens opportunities to understand what the Auditor does and how specific audits or investigations impact them.