West Virginia State Auditor Glen Gainer III took a lot of heat from state employees over the switch to a new payroll system, but two of the three Democratic candidates seeking to replace Gainer say the retiring auditor made the right call.
After a change to a 26-week pay-period system, state workers now receive their paychecks every two weeks, instead of twice a month.
"Moving forward to a new payroll system and new pay schedule was absolutely the right choice," said Robin Righter, a candidate who worked in the auditor's office from 1998 to 2002. "It puts us in line with private industry."
Some state employees allege they're being shortchanged financially under the new payroll system.
Democratic candidate Jason Pizatella, who has Gainer's endorsement, said it's "simply nonsense" that state employees are "losing money" or having their paychecks shorted.
"I do think bi-weekly pay was the right choice," said Pizatella, who recently stepped down as acting administration secretary for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. "Paychecks became more consistent and more timely. After about two weeks, [employees] became confident they were being paid for every hour they worked and for every dime that they were owed."
Righter, who lives in Shinnston, and Pizatella, a Fairmont native who lives in Charleston, spoke to Charleston Gazette-Mail editors and reporters Monday.
A third Democratic candidate, Mary Ann Claytor, was unable to attend the meeting. In written comments, Claytor criticized the new payroll system, saying state employees were bringing "home less per paycheck, which hurts families and single mothers."
The winner of next month's Democratic primary will face Delegate John "J.B" McCuskey, R-Kanawha, in the November general election. McCuskey is unopposed in the GOP primary.
Last December, Gainer announced he wouldn't seek re-election, ending nearly 25 years as the state's official bookkeeper. Gainer, a Democrat was elected auditor in 1992, replacing his father, Glen Gainer Jr.
"He has done a fantastic job modernizing that office," said Pizatella, but added that the agency would benefit from a "fresh look."
Righter said the auditor's office could do a better job in providing "more timely" audits of local governments. The audits sometimes turn up questionable spending practices by small cities and towns.
"When I'm out talking to people that's the biggest complaint that I get - that the audits aren't being done in a timely manner," Righter said. "I'm assuming that's because of resources and not enough staff."
Both candidates said the auditor must bolster "cybersecurity" and guard against hacks into the state's accounting, payroll and purchasing system.
"With all of the payment and all of the electronic information that's going to and from local governments, we have to make sure it's the most secure in the world," Pizatella said.
In 2009, Kenyan scammers stole $1.5 million from West Virginia state government. The Kenyans set up phony corporations and bank accounts, and tricked Gainer's office into rerouting payments meant for legitimate companies that did business with state government agencies. The scheme extended to three other states - Ohio, Kansas and Massachusetts.
"There's always somebody out there trying to break into the system, and we need to stay on top of that," Righter said.
Righter and Pizatella share many of the same views about the auditor's office, but their backgrounds differ sharply.
In addition to working as a cabinet secretary for Tomblin, Pizatella has served as legislative liaison to the state Senate and House of Delegates, deputy state tax commissioner, acting revenue secretary and chairman of the state Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, which distributes grants for water and sewer projects across the state.
After leaving the auditor's office, Righter worked as chief operations officer for the Raleigh County Community Action Association. She now owns a restaurant and an apparel printing business.
"He's an attorney. I'm an accountant. Jason has more governmental experience," Righter said. "I've got government, nonprofit and private industry."
The state auditor's office has about 250 employees and an annual budget of more than $60 million.
"This race ultimately comes down to leadership and experience," Pizatella said. "We're not asking the voters of West Virginia to elect an accountant or a lawyer. We're asking them to elect a leader."
Reach Eric Eyre at ericeyre@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4869 or follow @ericeyre on Twitter.