Harriet Richardson, a former city auditor for Palo Alto, has been appointed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to be the first Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Inspector General. Richardson is one of three nominees submitted to the governor for consideration by BART's Board of Directors following a national recruitment effort for the position.
“BART thanks Governor Newsom for appointing Harriet Richardson as BART’s first Inspector General,” said BART Board President Bevan Dufty. “Ms. Richardson brings almost 30 years of experience conducting independent management reviews and audits. She has received six audit awards from the Association of Local Government Auditors and her work has led to many significant reforms during her career here, in the Bay Area, and Washington state,” said Dufty. “Most of all, we look forward to Ms. Richardson rolling up her sleeves to build this new Inspector General’s office and help improve our agency’s operations and ensure the effective use of public funds."
In addition to her experience with the city of Palo Alto, Richardson has served as auditor manager for the City of Berkeley Auditor’s Office from 2011 to 2014 and deputy director of audit at the Washington State Auditor’s Office in the Performance Audits Division from 2008 to 2011. She served as audit director for the City and County of San Francisco, Controller’s Office from 2005 to 2008 and was deputy internal auditor for the City of Atlanta Auditor’s Office from 2002 to 2005. Richardson earned a Master of Business Administration degree from City University of Seattle.
The position of Inspector General was created when Bay Area voters approved Regional Measure 3 in June of 2018. The BART Inspector General is tasked with planning, directing and managing the independent oversight of all district actives and operations to ensure the effective use of resources and compliance with applicable federal and state laws. The Inspector General is empowered to conduct independent audits and investigations and to provide reports of findings to BART’s Board of Directors, the California State Legislature and the public. While the voter-approved measure mandated BART's Board submit nominees to the governor, Richardson will not need to be confirmed by the state Senate prior to starting work as BART Inspector General.
“The appointment of Ms. Richardson as BART’s new Inspector General helps BART reach a new level of transparency and accountability to the riding public and the taxpayers who fund the cost of BART infrastructure and operations,” said BART Board District 1 Director Debora Allen. “Ms. Richardson has the education and career experience to serve BART well as its first Inspector General reporting directly to the BART Board of Directors and the State of California."
