OC Political

This came over the wire from Auditor-Controller-Elect Eric Woolery’s shop earlier this month…

ERIC WOOLERY BECOMES ELECTED COUNTY AUDITOR-CONTROLLER JANUARY 5
Public Invited to Morning Event at the Fountain in the Orange Circle

Orange County Auditor-Controller-elect Eric Woolery will take the oath of office at 8:30 a.m. on Monday January 5, 2015 in the Orange Circle. Woolery is Orange County’s first elected Auditor-Controller since David Sundstrom resigned more than two years ago and the county’s fourth elected Auditor-Controller since the office was established in 1959. He is only the second CSUF graduate to hold countywide elected office in Orange County.

The public may attend the ceremony officiated by Orange City Council Mayor Pro Tem Fred Whitaker. There will be a short reception at Watson’s Drug Store located just a few steps away at 116 E. Chapman Avenue.

County officials are typically sworn in at ceremonies in Santa Ana, but in a nod to his hometown Woolery chose the historic circle in Orange Town Center. “The circle is a special place for me and my family,” said Woolery, who was Orange Treasurer until he recently resigned to take his new position. “I proposed to my wife there, I’ve lived in Orange for 30 years and am raising my family in Orange so I want to begin my tenure as Auditor-Controller in this place that represents both my roots and my aspirations.

Woolery earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Cal State University Fullerton with an emphasis in accounting. After graduation, he worked at Ernst & Young, one of the country’s top “Big 4” accounting firms, until earning his California Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in 1992.

For ten years, he owned a CPA firm with two locations specializing in entrepreneurs. He has always had a strong interest in public policy and has held elected office before. From 1996 to 2000, he served as Fourth District Representative to the Orange County Board of Education. More recently, he was the treasurer of the City of Orange. In the seven years prior to his election, Eric was the Deputy Director of Administration for the Riverside County District Attorney’s office. His duties included overseeing a staff of nearly 750 and managing the department’s $100 million budget.

As the County’s Auditor-Controller, Eric will be the county’s chief accounting officer working on behalf of the taxpayers to oversee how each county department receives and spends tax dollars. Since he is an independently elected official, he reports only to the taxpayers. However, his office provides a critical role in county governance by providing both the County Supervisors and citizens with independent financial analysis in order to support sound policy decisions.

A long time Orange County resident, Eric graduated from Orange Lutheran High School. He resides in Orange with his wife Lisa and two young children.

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