By Brian Wright | Casa Grande Dispatch
Things got personal for Supervisor Todd House of Apache Junction during a discussion of Pinal County’s Internal Audit Office on Wednesday.
House verbally attacked Board of Supervisors Chairman Steve Miller of Casa Grande at a meeting where supervisors discussed the possibility of using third-party audit companies instead of the county’s in-house department.
House, a supporter of Interim Internal Audit Officer Kate Witek, described the process of looking at private sector audit companies as a “witch hunt” by Miller against Witek.
Miller had asked county staff to compare financial numbers on private sector auditors versus the county’s audit department because he said private companies can provide the function cheaper, which would save taxpayers money.
“This issue has been brought forward as a personal vendetta by the chairman,” House said. “I don’t know the reason or the why, I just know that since he got here, he’s been picking on the Internal Audit Division.”
Miller chose not to respond to House, but Vice Chairman Anthony Smith of Maricopa, said he did not appreciate the tone of House’s comments.
“I find it regrettable that Supervisor House chooses to make this more of a personal accusation rather than just concentrate on the facts,” he said. “I don’t think, Supervisor House, that really serves the board well in this issue. I know it’s meaningful to you, but I regret the personal accusations.”
