Hello Neighbor,

I’m Joseph Maestas. As your State Auditor, I’ve had the honor of serving as your watchdog - holding local and state governments, and elected officials - accountable for how your taxpayer dollars are spent. I take that responsibility seriously and am grateful for the trust you’ve put in me to do this work. Now, I’m asking for your support once again as I seek re-election to the Office of State Auditor (OSA).

Promises Made

When I first ran for State Auditor, I committed to bring integrity, transparency, and proven results to the office. Since then, I’ve delivered results that protect taxpayer dollars, promote transparency, and strengthen New Mexico’s future.

I pledged four things to voters. I promised to:

1.       Be proactive in preventing waste, fraud and abuse

2.       Provide greater protection for our most vulnerable populations

3.       Drive Capital Outlay Reform

4.       Turn Audit Data into Action

These promises weren’t simply campaign rhetoric. They were a plan of action and, since taking office, we have turned these promises into real, measurable progress for New Mexico. 

Promises Kept

Promise #1: Be proactive in preventing waste, fraud, and abuse

Western New Mexico University - uncovered $360K+ in improper expenditures; ordered a special audit to delve deeper into such expenditures; replaced a compromised self-designated audit with an independent OSA-led review to protect the integrity of how taxpayer dollars are spent in higher education.

Mora County - Launched a special audit to trace $2.7M in unaccounted funds tied to wildfire relief; acted swiftly to safeguard FEMA reimbursements and ensure recovery dollars help communities rebuild.

Dona Ana County - Ordered a special audit of the government to address breakdown in public trust through balanced, independent oversight.

Lovington Schools - Designated a special audit to address allegations of contract mismanagement involving $4.8M in public funds.

Excessive Executive Travel - Uncovered excessive cost upgrades of overseas travel by a Cabinet Secretary and staff member, resulting in the establishment of a new cost-conscious travel policy for overseas travel

Promise #2: Provide greater protection for our most vulnerable population

Strengthened  financial oversight of conservatorships and bolstered legal services to defend the rights and safety of those who rely on the state for protection; took bold steps to ensure Opioid Settlement Funds are spent on recovery through broader oversight and consistency with settlement agreement—not bureaucracy; reorganized and professionalized operations and launched hybrid telework and wellness programs to improve service and responsiveness for those who need it most.

Promise #3: Drive Capital Outlay Reform

Unlocked $6.2 million in withheld capital outlay funds—cutting red tape and jumpstarting delayed public projects through a new direct financial compliance assistance program for small local public bodies. Secured $2.5M in special appropriations for the program; rolled out a long-term financial compliance strategy for small public bodies, ensuring critical funding goes to real results—not mismanagement.

Championed legislation that took effect on July 1, 2025, designed to help address New Mexico’s $5.8B in stalled capital projects by incentivizing financial compliance of public entities as a means to access withheld capital outlay and apply for new sources of funding.

Promise #4: Turn Audit Data into Action

Developed reports of common audit findings of various categories of public entities and presented to appropriate audiences with recommendations to address those findings; launched a groundbreaking intern program with state universities and created a robust support program for OSA employees pursuing a certified public accountant (CPA) license—building the next generation of public accountants and CPAs; Integrated technology (commercial software, AI, data analytics, etc.) to improve operational efficiencies and championing the inclusion of accounting into the science, technology, engineering, and math umbrella to accelerate grant opportunities for accounting and truly integrate technology into the accounting field.

Additional Accomplishments

Modernized fraud investigations by creating an online case management system to provide constituents with faster responses.

Closed an unused Albuquerque office, cutting unnecessary costs and saving taxpayer dollars.

Called for a full audit of the statewide enterprise resource financial system, holding agencies accountable and shining a light where others wouldn’t.

Built a high-performing executive team committed to rooting out misuse and ensuring every dollar is used wisely. Our team now includes two former NM State Controllers

Successfully achieved a national certification as a fraud examiner

I would be honored to continue to serve you.

Adelante!

Joseph