First female state auditor in Utah history taking over for ‘Frugal Dougall’
Jan 2, 2025, 10:01 PM | Updated: 10:38 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah is about to make history as the first female state auditor will take office next week.
Tina Cannon will be sworn in on Monday after winning the general election in November. She is replacing John Dougall, who has served as state auditor since 2013.
Dougall and Cannon spoke with KSL TV in a joint interview Thursday ahead of the changeover in the office.
Dougall said the key job of a state auditor is to be a watchdog and help the public hold government accountable. Since leaving the Utah Legislature 12 years ago, Dougall has tried to make the office more visible.
“When I ran for auditor, most of my legislative colleagues didn’t even know we had a state auditor, let alone it was a constitutional office,” Dougall said. “From my perspective, that’s a problem.”
John Dougall, also known as ‘Frugal Dougall,’ speaking about the changes he made during his time as state auditor. (Nathaniel Gillis, KSL TV)
While in office, he’s become well known by his nickname, “Frugal Dougall.” But after three terms, he’s leaving, and his deputy, Cannon, is taking over.
“It’s a big upgrade,” Dougall said, pointing at Cannon.
“It’s a very important oversight role,” Cannon added, “and it’s a responsibility I take very seriously.”
Cannon will be Utah’s first female auditor. All the others since 1896 have been men. She’s also the first Republican woman independently elected to statewide office.
“It’s historic,” Cannon said, “and I am proud of that.”
Cannon, who lives in Mountain Green, is an accountant and served two terms on the Morgan County Council. She ran unsuccessfully for Congress twice, in 2020 and 2022, before joining Dougall’s office as deputy auditor.
Tina Cannon in an interview with KSL TV on Thursday. (Nathaniel Gillis, KSL TV)
Once she takes office, Cannon said she plans to focus on the Transparent Utah website, which provides financial information about government. She also expects to keep a close eye on Salt Lake City’s new downtown revitalization plan and a possible future Major League Baseball stadium, which are estimated to cost taxpayers more than $1 billion.
“If there’s tax revenue collected in Utah, our office has oversight over it being properly used and only in the way that it was designed to be used,” Cannon said.
Both Dougall and Cannon are Republicans. But they insist auditing isn’t partisan.
“I always viewed it as my job was to call balls and strikes,” Dougall said. “It was to look at what the information says and call it like I saw it.”
Cannon agreed.
“We don’t set the policy here,” she said, “but our job is to make sure that the policy is actually followed.”
As she takes over as auditor, will Cannon have a nickname like “Frugal Dougall” has?
“You know, nothing rhymes with Cannon the same way,” Cannon responded, smiling. “We can be a straight shooter. How about that?”
“Bring in the big cannon,” Dougall added.
Cannon will be sworn in as state auditor privately Monday, with a public ceremony to follow on Wednesday. As for Dougall’s next steps, he’s off to be an administrator in the Utah Attorney General’s Office.
