State auditor candidate Watkins stops in Colfax

Republican James Watkins, candidate for Washington State Auditor, stopped in Colfax Tuesday to meet with supporters. Watkins is running to replace retiring Auditor Brian Sonntag.

The business consultant from Redmond spoke with the Gazette in the Top Notch Cafe.

Watkins said he is running for the auditor post to make government more accountable to its citizens. He spoke harshly of the ability of his opponent, Troy Kelley, a Democrat who has served in the legislature since 2006, to meet those demands.

“I don’t think he has the character to be state auditor,” Watkins said of his opponent.

He spok...