SANDAG board approves new independent auditor

The hire comes after internal battles with the board, Audit Committee to replace the outgoing auditor as scandals have rocked the agency over the past several years.

The SANDAG Board of Directors hired Courtney Ruby as the new Independent Performance Auditor during its Sept. 8 meeting. Courtesy photo

REGION — The San Diego Association of Governments Board of Directors approved hiring a new Independent Performance Auditor during its Sept. 8 meeting.

Courtney Ruby will replace Mary Khoshamshrab, who is scheduled to retire in October. Ruby is currently the City of Oakland’s auditor and will resign on Oct. 13 and begin her position with SANDAG on Nov. 13, according to a press release.

The Office of the Independent Auditor (OIPA) is the official body of SANDAG that investigates potential fraud, waste, and abuse identified by SANDAG staff or other stakeholders.

“I am thrilled to be joining SANDAG as the Independent Performance Auditor. I step into this role with enthusiasm for SANDAG’s mission and ready to serve the Board in this critical oversight role,” Ruby said. “It will be my honor to work with the Audit Committee and Board (sic) to bring increased accountability and transparency to SANDAG, and as I have always done in every organization I have served.”

However, SANDAG has been rocked by several scandals over the past four to five years as millions of dollars in expenditures have been questioned and audited by the OIPA.