Rep. Sexton Participates in First Meeting of Inspector General Advisory Commission
St. Paul, MN — Rep. Sexton today participated in the first meeting of the bipartisan Legislative Inspector General Advisory Commission, marking an important step toward establishing Minnesota's new Office of the Inspector General and strengthening the state's efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse.
The commission's primary responsibility is to review qualified applicants and recommend candidates to the governor for Minnesota's first Inspector General. While state law does not specify a required number of candidates, the commission is targeting three qualified candidates to recommend to the governor.
The commission aims to have those three candidates selected by mid-December, giving members time to complete the recommendation process and submit the candidates ahead of the statutory January 1, 2027 deadline.
"This commission has an important responsibility in helping establish an Inspector General's Office that is independent, effective, and focused on protecting Minnesota taxpayers," said Rep. Sexton. "We have seen the consequences of fraud when oversight fails. Finding the right person to lead this office is an important first step toward building a stronger system of accountability."
The bipartisan commission will continue meeting over the coming months to review applicants and identify the strongest candidates for the position. The commission’s work will help establish the foundation for an office intended to strengthen oversight across Minnesota's executive branch agencies and programs.
"Today's meeting was just the beginning, but the goal is clear. We need to build an office that can identify problems, follow the facts, and hold people accountable when taxpayer dollars are misused," Sexton said. "This is an important step toward making sure Minnesota has the tools necessary to fight fraud effectively."
The commission is expected to submit its recommendations to the governor by January 1, 2027, with the governor required to appoint the Inspector General by February 1, 2027.