Legislative auditor stepping down

• By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Nov 4, 2009 - Page: 8A

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

Legislative Auditor Steve Theriot announced Tuesday that he is retiring in less than three weeks.

“It’s never an easy thing … I’m not getting any younger,” he said.

Theriot, 63, will work until Nov. 20. He said his immediate plans are to take his granddaughters to Walt Disney World in December.

Theriot’s first assistant, Daryl Purpera, will fill in until the Legislature picks a replacement.

Purpera has been with the Legislative Auditor’s Office since 1985.

The auditor is an employee of the Legislature who checks the financial books and job performance of government agencies in Louisiana.

Before becoming legislative auditor in 2004, Theriot was a legislator and a Jefferson Parish School Board member.

He replaced Dan Kyle as legislative auditor after Kyle resigned to run for governor.

Kyle turned the Legislative Auditor’s Office into a public watchdog that ferreted out public corruption.

The kickbacks case against former Elections Commissioner Jerry Fowler began as an investigation by the Legislative Auditor’s Office. Kyle also took a close look at former Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom.

Theriot wasn’t as high profile as Kyle. But he did battle in court with Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon over access to records in Donelon’s office.

Theriot said he has been contemplating retirement for awhile. He said he wants to spend more time at his home in Marrero.

His replacement must be a licensed certified public accountant. A special commission will compile a list of possible replacements. The majority of the Legislature must agree on Theriot’s successor.