Public Auditor of Guam explained

The Public Auditor of Guam is an elected territorial office independent of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the Government of Guam. Five individuals have held the office of Public Auditor since its creation in 1994. The incumbent is Benjamin Cruz.

Election and term of office

The auditor was initially appointed to a six-year term by the governor after a commission recommended at least three candidates, and then be subject to a retention vote by voters (similar to judges). Neither appointed auditor served long enough to face a retention election. In 1999, legislation changed the office to a nonpartisan election with four-year terms and no term limits.

Powers and duties

The Public Auditor heads Guam's Office of Public Accountability, which is tasked with promoting effective management of public resources through audits of territorial agencies and local governments and administration of procurement appeals.^[1] The Public Auditor is also responsible for:

maintaining a government ethics training program for elected and appointed public officials;^[2]
operating a hotline for investigating citizen concerns and whistleblower complaints of fraud and abuse of power;^[3] and
publishing meeting agendas and approved minutes prepared by territorial agencies, boards, commissions, and public corporations.^[4]

History

The position of Public Auditor was established in 1992 and was originally appointed. In 2000, Doris Flores Brooks became the first Public Auditor elected.

List of Public Auditors (1994–present)

Appointed auditors

Elected auditors

Name	End
^[6]		Republican
		Republican
^[7]	present	Democratic

Notes and References

Web site: About OPA . Guam Office of Public Accountability (OPA). April 9, 2023.
Web site: Ethics in Government Program. Guam Office of Public Accountability. August 2, 2023.
Web site: Hotline and Citizen Concerns. Guam Office of Public Accountability. August 2, 2023.
Web site: Board and Commission Meetings. August 2, 2023.
https://www.opaguam.org/about-us/public-auditor
Web site: https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/amp/2018/05/30/flores-brooks-quits-opa-eyes-congress-seat . Flores-Brooks quits OPA, eyes Congress seat . pacificislandtimes.com . Mar-Vic . Cagurangan . May 30, 2018 . October 7, 2021. (archived)
Web site: Benjamin J.F. Cruz Sworn into Office as Guam's Public Auditor . September 24, 2018 . Guam Office of Public Accountability (OPA). April 9, 2023.