The Democratic contest for Vermont state auditor features a Montpelier veteran and a political newcomer who says the little-understood office needs a modern messenger. The current auditor, Doug Hoffer, is retiring after seven two-year terms. While he praised the current auditor’s staff, he cast himself as a candidate of change. Both Ashe and Graeter acknowledge that staff in the auditor’s office must adhere to defined government auditing standards, which require that findings be supported by evidence. In keeping with Seven Days’ conflict-of-interest policy, Routly neither assigns nor edits stories about this race or about the auditor’s office.