Cindy Byrd
Republican | Oklahoma
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Cindy Byrd
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary & Special
Race
State Auditor and Inspector
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
East Central University, Ada, OK, BS in Accounting, 1997
State Certification, OKC, OK, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), 2003
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
National State Auditors Association, Member & 2022 Recipient of the National State Auditors Association Excellence in Accountability Award for the Forensic Audit of Epic Charter Schools, Coalgate Church of Nazarene
Member, Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants, Member
American Board of Forensic Accounting, Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Member, National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers, Member
Helen Cole Republican Women's Club, Member, Oklahoma Second Amendment Association
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector, Took office January 2019 to present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
None
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (2)
Jason Hicks
*Oklahomans for Health and Parental Rights
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
State Rep. Jay Steagall
State Rep. Denise Crosswhite-Hader
Oklahoma City Council Member Bradley Carter
State Rep. John Pfeiffer
State Rep. Gerrid Kendrix
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (15)
Boots PAC (2018)
Charles McCall (2022)
Cheryl Baber (2022)
Chris Kannady (2019)
Dana Murphy (2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
none.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Choose not to answer
Auditing standards require my independence in all compliance related matters and I audit the funding of government programs in my professional capacity so I cannot answer this question on this survey. In my personal belief, I oppose abortion fully.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Auditing standards require my independence in all compliance related matters. In my personal belief, I believe in small government that takes absolutely only what is needed from the citizenry, and then spends it in an accountable and transparent manner.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
In just my term of office, we have already identified close to 2 Billion dollars in government money being spent in Oklahoma without appropriate controls and safeguards. If I am re-elected, I will continue to expose these areas which will shine a light of transparency on areas that need to be cut. The findings already have resulted in millions of dollars returned to our state treasury, and ongoing investigations that should recoup even more.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
None.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
Auditing standards require my independence in all compliance related matters. In my personal belief, I believe in small government that takes absolutely only what is needed from the citizenry, and then spends it in an accountable and transparent manner.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Auditing standards require my independence in all compliance related matters and I audit the funding of government programs in my professional capacity. In my personal belief, the Constitution guarantees rights to all citizens and the federal government's power is narrow and defined and should not exceed that.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Secure the borders, Strengthen partnerships with allies, stop funding entities and countries that facilitate funding to their efforts.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Those who are vetted by going through the process legally.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Choose not to answer
I cannot comment on voucher programs as those are taxpayer funded. I am currently tasked with an audit regarding a public charter school so I cannot comment. Auditing standards require my independence in all compliance related matters and I audit the funding of government programs in my professional capacity. However, I can comment publicly, as I do frequently, that I am an advocate for school choice. I believe parents should have the choice where and how their children are educated.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and was buried and resurrected, and that we are assured of salvation through His grace. I believe that a Christian should follow the tenets of Scripture and His commandments to show a living testimony of faith in Him.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Should be able to quickly remove people who have passed away from the voter Rolls, voter ID to vote should be implemented in all states.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is not systemic, so I would not say it is a threat to domestic security overall. Certainly there are individual examples of this occurring, but when we see those examples, public sentiment and action moves to stop this from occurring and it remains isolated.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Exactly as the Preamble to the Constitution states: "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity."
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://tulsaworld.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-oklahoma-auditor-showing-political-independence-as-a-true-public-servant/article_783fdcd0-8e9b-11ec-af51-cb411b97d4fb.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_Tulsa_World_Opinion&fbclid=IwAR0xAXuVh-ew5oluEoJY3r-pwAEVjE68JrawDBWNLOGum1sj-s-hoFzb98A https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/02/20/oklahoma-auditor-cyndy-byrd-finds-facts-dont-always-sway-beliefs/6820898001/ https://www.facebook.com/OKFaithLeaders/posts/congratulations-cindy-byrd/1643110432703263/ https://nondoc.com/2022/02/09/cindy-byrd-releases-osdh-audit-ppe/ https://nondoc.com/2022/03/16/joe-don-dickey-tim-binghom-indicted-ced-7/ https://www.kgou.org/show/capitol-insider/2021-09-17/capitol-insider-governor-requests-investigative-audit-of-state-department-of-education
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I believe people own the government and government entities are just stewards of the people’s checkbook. My role is to go and make sure those checkbooks are in order. I am the only CPA in this race, and the role of the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector is to audit government and answer to the people on what government does with the people's tax dollars. I cannot just perform an audit outside of a set of defined ones, but when requested by a citizen's petition, the Governor, the AG or a DA, or a joint resolution by house and senate, I fulfill those audits. I have stood strong, even in the face of attacks, in telling the truth because the people deserve to know when their dollars are abused. If elected, I will remain steadfast in truth in my next term.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
none
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
