Changes

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Theriot was named the fourth legislative auditor on April 20, 2004, and assumed his duties a month later. He succeeded the Republican [[Dan Kyle]], who had turned the office into a government watchdog from which an investigation was launched into the activities of the late Elections Commissioner [[Jerry Fowler]], who was defeated in the 1999 primary and later imprisoned for accepting kickbacks. Kyle left the post in 2003 to run unsuccessfully for insurance commissioner<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/blogs/politicsblog?date=11/03/2009|author=Michelle Millhollon|title=Legislative Auditor Announces Retirement|date=November 3, 2009|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=November 21, 2009}}</ref>​

Theriot was named the fourth legislative auditor on April 20, 2004, and assumed his duties a month later. He succeeded the Republican [[Dan Kyle]], who had turned the office into a government watchdog from which an investigation was launched into the activities of the late Elections Commissioner [[Jerry Fowler]], who was defeated in the 1999 primary and later imprisoned for accepting kickbacks. Kyle left the post in 2003 to run unsuccessfully for insurance commissioner<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/blogs/politicsblog?date=11/03/2009|author=Michelle Millhollon|title=Legislative Auditor Announces Retirement|date=November 3, 2009|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=November 21, 2009}}</ref>​

 

Theriot supervised a staff of accountants and investigators who review the books of more than 3,500 state and local government units and affiliated entities. The auditor is elected by a majority of the 144 members of both houses of the legislature from a slate of candidates submitted by a commission.<ref name=theriot>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/11/legislative_auditor_steve_ther_1.html|author=Jan Moller|title=Legislative auditor Steve Theriot to retire; assistant to handle duties temporarily|date=November 3, 2009|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=November 21, 2009}}</ref>​

Theriot supervised a staff of accountants and investigators who review the books of more than 3,500 state and local government units and affiliated entities. The auditor is elected by a majority of the 144 members of both houses of the legislature from a slate of candidates submitted by a commission.<ref name=theriot>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/11/legislative_auditor_steve_ther_1.html|author=Jan Moller|title=Legislative auditor Steve Theriot to retire; assistant to handle duties temporarily|date=November 3, 2009|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=November 21, 2009}}</ref>​

 

As auditor, Theriot clashed in 2009 with Jim Donelon, who became state insurance commissioner in 2006. The quarrel referred to access by Theriot’s office to [[e-mail]]s and other department records. Ultimately, Theriot found misspending in the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, which led to the [[indictment]] of its former president, Terry Lisotta.<ref name=theriot/> Theriot had to obtain a court order to inspect the records, which Donelon originally said were off limits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/08/auditors_staff_begins_scrutiny.html|author=Ron Thibodeaux|title=Auditor's staff begins scrutiny of Insurance Department records|date=August 17, 2009|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=November 21, 2009}}</ref>​

As auditor, Theriot clashed in 2009 with Jim Donelon, who became state insurance commissioner in 2006. The quarrel referred to access by Theriot’s office to [[e-mail]]s and other department records. Ultimately, Theriot found misspending in the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, which led to the [[indictment]] of its former president, Terry Lisotta.<ref name=theriot/> Theriot had to obtain a court order to inspect the records, which Donelon originally said were off limits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/08/auditors_staff_begins_scrutiny.html|author=Ron Thibodeaux|title=Auditor's staff begins scrutiny of Insurance Department records|date=August 17, 2009|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=November 21, 2009}}</ref>​

 

Another Theriot audit began with an inquiry into a toy charity operated by the police department in Mandeville in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The investigation found numerous financial improprieties in Mandeville City Hall and contributed to the political demise of [[Mayor]] Eddie Price, III.<ref name=theriot/>​

Another Theriot audit began with an inquiry into a toy charity operated by the police department in Mandeville in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The investigation found numerous financial improprieties in Mandeville City Hall and contributed to the political demise of [[Mayor]] Eddie Price, III.<ref name=theriot/>​

 

Theriot himself came under criticism when it was revealed but not included on his resume that after having become auditor he was a vice president for public finance of the firm Coastal Securities.<ref name=conflict>{{cite web|url=http://lapoliticalnews.blogspot.com/2006/11/theriot-needs-to-resign.html|title=Theriot needs to resign! Time for conflict resolution|date=November 20, 2006|publisher=lapoliticalnews.blogspot.com|accessdate=November 21, 2009}}</ref> The company, which handles [[bond issue]]s for Louisiana public institutions, is subject to the legislative auditor's oversight. The Louisiana government watchdog Charlton Bath "C. B." Forgotston, Jr. (1945-2016), of Hammond called in 2006 for Theriot's resignation over the conflict of interest.<ref name=conflict/>​

Theriot himself came under criticism when it was revealed but not included on his resume that after having become auditor he was a vice president for public finance of the firm Coastal Securities.<ref name=conflict>{{cite web|url=http://lapoliticalnews.blogspot.com/2006/11/theriot-needs-to-resign.html|title=Theriot needs to resign! Time for conflict resolution|date=November 20, 2006|publisher=lapoliticalnews.blogspot.com|accessdate=November 21, 2009}}</ref> The company, which handles [[bond issue]]s for Louisiana public institutions, is subject to the legislative auditor's oversight. The Louisiana government watchdog Charlton Bath "C. B." Forgotston, Jr. (1945-2016), of Hammond called in 2006 for Theriot's resignation over the conflict of interest.<ref name=conflict/>​

 

Theriot's last day as Legislative Auditor was November 20, 2009. He was succeeded in the post by his former first assistant, Daryl Purpera. State House Speaker James Wilton "Jim" Tucker credited Theriot with improvements in the auditor's office and the effective monitoring of the distribution of hurricane recovery dollars after the twin storms of 2005.<ref name=theriot/>​

Theriot's last day as Legislative Auditor was November 20, 2009. He was succeeded in the post by his former first assistant, Daryl Purpera. State House Speaker James Wilton "Jim" Tucker credited Theriot with improvements in the auditor's office and the effective monitoring of the distribution of hurricane recovery dollars after the twin storms of 2005.<ref name=theriot/>​