This public letter was contributed by San Benito County resident, Heather Simpson-Bluhm The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. Lea este artículo en español aqui.
Letter to the Editor,
I am writing regarding recent comments made by CPA Laura Garcilazo, candidate for the office of Auditor-Controller for San Benito County, in a BenitoLink interview about a reported $1 million loss in San Benito County.
The reference “$1 million was stolen from the County” is false. In fact, the fraud referenced resulted in zero funds “stolen” from the County. While there was embezzlement from the library, due to lack of oversight from the Library Department head, who the Auditor-Controller’s office does not supervise, that loss was less than $300K. Furthermore, there is no publicly available audit, investigative report, or law enforcement finding that the Auditor-Controller’s office failed in its oversight responsibilities. The referenced “state investigation” was a broad review of county-wide financial practices requested by the Board of Supervisors, not a targeted inquiry into that office by the State. It appears that certain Supervisors are looking for a scapegoat, and have fed this candidate talking points and misinformation while trying to deflect from the fact that they themselves supervise Department heads and are accountable for the embezzlement loss.
Her statement that these events “point to a failure of oversight” is therefore not supported by verified findings and therefore create a misleading impression for readers.
As a CPA, Ms. Garcilazo is held to professional standards emphasizing integrity, objectivity, and honesty, as outlined in the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. Public statements involving financial matters should be accurate and fact-based to maintain trust in the profession and in this case, for the office she is seeking.
Given that Ms. Garcilazo is employed at Bianchi, Kasavan & Pope, LLC, a respected accounting firm, her public statements could also reflect on her employer. Ensuring that communications about financial matters are accurate and supported by evidence is essential not only for public trust but also for maintaining confidence in the integrity of the profession and the firms that employ licensed CPAs.
Sincerely,
Heather Simpson-Bluhm
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