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36-526: Shad White is the incumbent state auditor of Mississippi as of 2022. He assumed office on July 17, 2018. The position of state auditor was enumerated as part of the executive branch in Mississippi's first constitution in 1817. The office was filled by the choice of the Mississippi Legislature . The first auditor, John R. Girault, was elected on December 19, 1817. The 1832 constitution stipulated that

72-506: A State Auditor's investigation in state history. White developed a program to increase government efficiency which was modeled after a similar program created by Rob Sand , the Democratic Iowa State Auditor . In February 2023, Brett Favre filed a defamation lawsuit against White, alleging White made false and defamatory statements related to Favre's ties to the Mississippi welfare scandal. In February 2024, White filed

108-450: A State Policy Fellow. In 2008, White was named a Rhodes Scholar . He studied economic and social history at St John's College, Oxford , earning a Master of Science degree, and rowed crew. In 2010, White's home county named March 24 "Shad White Day." " White earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 2014. While in law school, White was President of the Harvard chapter of

144-537: A bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master's degree in political science from Mississippi College in Clinton . He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from Mississippi College, where he served as an adjunct professor teaching Mississippi political history, both before and during his first term as governor. Prior to entering government public service, Bryant

180-715: A counter suit as auditor asking the court to require Favre "...to repay the principal and interest he owes on $ 1.1 million in welfare funds." In August 2024, White published Mississippi Swindle: Brett Favre and the Welfare Scandal that Shocked America , which gives his perspective on the scandal. White is married to Rina White (née Thomas); they have two daughters and a son, and live in Flowood, Mississippi . They are members at St. Richard Catholic Church in Jackson. Phil Bryant Dewey Phillip Bryant (born December 9, 1954)

216-578: A litigation attorney at Butler Snow, LLP, in Ridgeland, Mississippi . During that time, he also served as a special prosecutor in Rankin County, Mississippi . In December 2017, White was named as the director of the Mississippi Justice Institute. While White served as Director, the Mississippi Justice Institute successfully defended the constitutionality of charter schools in Mississippi in

252-473: A trial court and won an Open Meetings Act case against the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors and Natchez city government. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner . On July 6, 2018, Governor Phil Bryant announced that he would appoint White to serve as Mississippi's State Auditor following the resignation of Stacey Pickering . White is the first millennial to serve in a statewide office in

288-571: Is an American politician who served as the 64th governor of Mississippi from 2012 to 2020. A member of the Republican Party , he was the 31st lieutenant governor of Mississippi from 2008 to 2012 and 40th state auditor of Mississippi from 1996 to 2008. Bryant was elected governor in 2011 , defeating the Democratic nominee Mayor Johnny DuPree of Hattiesburg . He was re-elected in 2015 , defeating Democratic nominee Robert Gray. Bryant

324-444: Is less than fifteen?", adding that the new law "smacks of defiance to this court." Reeves noted that although there were exceptions for situations where the mother's life or health is endangered should pregnancy be taken to term, the law does not allow for exceptions in the cases of pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. In January 2019, Bryant said he supported a bill to expand the use of civil forfeiture (the practice of seizing

360-507: Is one of the eight U.S. states that have a two-term lifetime limit, he was ineligible to seek a third term in the 2019 gubernatorial election. In 2015, Phil Bryant refused to support legislation to change the flag of Mississippi to remove the Confederate battle saltire, even though some members of his party, such as House Speaker Philip Gunn , publicly said the flag needed to change so that it could represent all Mississippians. Bryant took

396-566: Is the first millennial to hold statewide office in the Deep South . He was appointed to the position by Governor Phil Bryant in July 2018 and was subsequently elected without opposition in 2019. White won reelection in 2023 with 59% of the vote. Born and raised in Sandersville, Mississippi , White attended the University of Mississippi , where he earned degrees in economics and political science. He

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432-422: The Deep South . Most political observers were surprised by his appointment. White was elected as State Auditor with no opposition in 2019. He won reelection in 2023 with 59% of the vote. During his time as State Auditor, White's office has investigated the largest public fraud scheme in state history. White's office also investigated pharmacy benefit managers, resulting in the largest civil settlement from

468-606: The Democratic Party candidate, State Representative Jamie Franks . In 2011, Bryant was elected Governor of Mississippi , defeating the Democratic nominee Johnny DuPree . After leaving public office in 2019, Bryant became a founding member of BSS Global, a consulting firm. Bryant won the Republican primary in the gubernatorial election in 2011. He defeated Democratic nominee Johnny DuPree on November 8, with 60.98 percent of

504-536: The Federalist Society . In 2010, White worked as Policy and Research Director for Alan Nunnelee 's successful campaign for Congress. White was later hired by Phil Bryant to work as Director of Policy in Bryant's office while Bryant was serving as Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi . In 2015, White again worked for Bryant as campaign manager for Bryant's re-election campaign. From 2016 to 2017, White worked as

540-433: The power of arrest only after an individual had been indicted by a court following an auditing investigation, in 2003 the officers were granted full arrest powers and thus permitted to arrest anyone for any crime they detected in the course of their duties. Hamp King , who held the office from 1964 to 1984, was the first certified public accountant to serve as state auditor. Ray Mabus , who became auditor in 1984, raised

576-539: The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution." Bryant announced on February 21, 2017, that he would make emergency budget cuts to most state agency budgets for the third time in the current fiscal year, having made similar cuts in the previous year because of the lack of projected revenue. Bryant signed a law scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2019, that would ban abortions later than six weeks of pregnancy. The Center for Reproductive Rights in Jackson challenged

612-482: The Technical Assistance Division. The auditor's salary is $ 90,000 per year, but is set to increase to $ 150,000 annually in 2024. Source: Mississippi Official & Statistical Register Shad White Shadrack Tucker White (born September 22, 1985) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 42nd State Auditor of Mississippi since 2018. A member of the Republican Party , White

648-424: The ability to prosecute cases of criminal wrongdoing in court and, in such instances where wrongdoing is believed to have occurred, typically turns over its findings to other prosecutors. The Department of Audit has approximately 150 employees, including about 40 certified public accountants. It has four divisions: Financial and Compliance Audit Division, Investigative Division, Government Accountability Division, and

684-405: The auditor was to be popularly elected to serve a two-year term. The 1869 Constitution extended the term to four years. The fourth Constitution of Mississippi, ratified in 1890, made the state auditor ineligible to hold consecutive terms, and barred the state auditor and state treasurer from immediately succeeding each other. This measure was implemented as an effort to prevent collusion between

720-544: The filing fees associated with contesting a forfeiture can cost upwards of $ 1,500, and that fees associated with hiring an attorney add to the financial burden of the owner. Investigative reporting during Bryant's second term that looked into Mississippi statewide public officials' misuse of political campaign funds showed that Bryant had not made payments to himself or utilized campaign credit cards for unrelated personal spending, and since 2012 had spent $ 2.6 million on his campaign with almost as much left over. The campaign fund

756-478: The full House after initially being passed by the state senate . The 1890 constitution also required the auditor to publish a report of all expenses incurred by the legislature during its sessions, though this responsibility was transferred to a different officer in 1989. In 1993 some employees in the Department of Audit's investigative division were made law enforcement officers. Originally restricted to exercising

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792-494: The law. Because of his decision finding the prior less restrictive "15-week" law in the Currier case to be unconstitutional, Southern District of Mississippi Judge Carlton Reeves began his decision by referencing a prior law Bryant had signed and which Reeves had struck down in 2018. Judge Reeves wrote, "Here we go again. Mississippi has passed another law banning abortions prior to viability." He inquired, "Doesn't it boil down to six

828-480: The position that voters should make the decision on the state flag. On April 5, 2016, Bryant signed House Bill 1523, the HB-1523 , which allows government employees and private businesses to cite religious beliefs to deny services to same-sex couples seeking a marriage license. The governor said on Twitter that HB-1523, "merely reinforces the rights which currently exist to the exercise of religious freedom as stated in

864-542: The property of individuals suspected of crimes even if they are not indicted or found guilty in court) so that assets valued up to $ 20,000 could be seized by law enforcement without the forfeiture going before a judge. Under the bill, if the owner of the assets does not contest the forfeiture, the owner loses all right to it, and could not contest it before a judge. Nick Sibilla of the Institute for Justice notes that almost half of all asset seizures are valued at under $ 1,000, yet

900-501: The public profile of the office through a crackdown on corruption. The incumbent auditor, Shad White , assumed office on July 17, 2018. Under Article 5, Section 134, of the Mississippi Constitution , the state auditor is elected every four years. Candidates for the office must meet the same constitutional qualifications as candidates for the position of secretary of state ; they must be at least 25 years old and have lived in

936-477: The resignation of Steve Patterson . He was sworn in on November 1, 1996. Bryant was subsequently elected to a full term as auditor in 1999 and reelected in 2003. That year he convinced the Mississippi State Legislature to grant law enforcement officers in the auditor's office's investigative division full powers of arrest . In 2007, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi , defeating

972-514: The state for at least five years. They are elected to a four-year term without term limits. The state auditor is responsible for auditing state agencies, county governments, school districts, and tertiary educational institutions. They also conduct data audits for public schools and monitor state agencies' inventory. They advise local governments on accounting matters in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and relevant laws, and investigate misuse of public funds. The office lacks

1008-407: The time, the state had a single abortion clinic, served only by out-of-state doctors who lacked in-state admitting privileges. Governor Bryant ran for re-election in 2015, facing off against Mitch Young in the Republican primary, carrying 91.7 percent of the vote. On November 5, Bryant faced the Democratic nominee, truck driver Robert Gray, winning with 66.6 percent of the vote. Because Mississippi

1044-588: The two officeholders, after a series of embezzlements and misuses of public funds during the Reconstruction era . A 1966 constitutional amendment lifted the prohibitions, making the state auditor eligible to serve consecutive terms. In 1986, the Constitution Committee of the Mississippi House voted to approve a proposal to limit the state auditor to a ten-year tenure, but the measure was rejected by

1080-412: The vote compared to DuPree's 39.2 percent. On January 10, 2012, Bryant was sworn in as the 64th Governor of Mississippi. Former Republican State Chairman Jim Herring , a lawyer from Canton , headed the transition team. Once inaugurated, Bryant signed into law a bill requiring doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at local hospitals in an attempt to "end abortion in Mississippi". At

1116-625: Was a deputy sheriff in Hinds County from 1976 to 1981; he worked undercover in drug law enforcement and also worked as an insurance claims investigator. After his election to the Mississippi House of Representatives , Bryant served as Vice Chairman of the House Insurance Committee. Notably, he sponsored the Capital Gains Tax Cut Act of 1992. Bryant was appointed to serve as State Auditor by Governor Kirk Fordice following

State Auditor of Mississippi - Misplaced Pages Continue

1152-405: Was a public school art teacher. White grew up in Sandersville, Mississippi , and attended Sandersville Elementary and Northeast Jones High School . He was a Lindy-Callahan Scholar-Athlete for the state in 2004. White attended the University of Mississippi and received an undergraduate degree in economics and political science in 2008. He worked for The Pew Charitable Trusts from 2008-2009 as

1188-457: Was appointed by Phil Bryant. An attorney said, “John Davis knows of the extent of personal involvement of former Governor Bryant and Governor (Tate) Reeves and the massive waste of taxpayer money,” but said that Davis was under direction from the FBI to remain silent. The investigation into Bryant's culpability and involvement is ongoing. Bryant subsequently sued Mississippi Today , the outlet which broke

1224-649: Was born in Moorhead in Sunflower County in the Mississippi Delta . He is the son of Dewey C., a diesel mechanic, and Estelle R. Bryant, a mother who stayed home with her three boys. Bryant's family moved to the capital of Jackson , where his father worked for Jackson Mack Sales and was later Service Manager there. Dewey Phillip Bryant attended Council McCluer High School his junior and senior years. Bryant studied first at Hinds Community College and received

1260-435: Was closed out with the majority of funds going to a political action committee, Imagine Mississippi PAC. In January 2023, it was announced that Phil Bryant was a potential target in the ongoing Mississippi welfare funds scandal where over $ 77 million funds were misappropriated or stolen. The previous director of Mississippi's welfare agency, John Davis, who admitted to being involved and is currently working with authorities,

1296-624: Was named a Rhodes Scholar in 2008 and went on to study economic and social history at St. John's College, Oxford , earning a Master of Science degree. White later earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 2014. He previously served as Director of the Mississippi Justice Institute . He is a Certified Fraud Examiner . White was born on September 22, 1985, in Sandersville, Mississippi . White's father, Charles Robert White, and grandfather, Charles Raymond White, were oilfield pumpers. His mother, Emily Morgan White,

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