In a move expected to herald a new era of efficacy within Oregon’s state government, Secretary of State Tobias Read has named Steve Bergmann as the new director of the Audits Division. Announced yesterday, Bergmann steps up from his current position as Business Services Director for the Secretary of State’s office, bringing with him a nuanced understanding––forged from decades spent straddling the lines of public and private audit work.
Bergmann’s resume speaks of a seasoned professional; tenure across multiple state agencies in Oregon, including the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Revenue, ascends alongside notable stints at various accounting firms. Secretary Read emphasized the importance of choosing a leader unswayed by the siren calls of political grandstanding or journalistic acclaim when speaking on his appointment. "My goal is to build an audit team laser focused on improving the performance of state government," Read said, according to a press release from the Oregon Secretary of State's office.
The fresh-faced director is set to take office on Monday, tasked with restoring public trust and streamlining the state’s audit operations. Bergmann himself relayed his anticipation for the role, recognizing the Secretary’s vote of confidence and underscoring his dedication to bringing about tangible improvements—via a cocktail of transparency, comprehensive data analyses, and full resource utilization. “I appreciate the Secretary’s confidence and look forward to restoring faith, stability, and reliability into the audits division,” Bergmann told the Oregon Secretary of State's office.
