33 apply to be Rhode Island’s first inspector general. Few may qualify.

Nearly three dozen people want to be Rhode Island’s first inspector general to root out waste and improve government efficiency. But the pool of qualified candidates may be much smaller.

The five-member Inspector General Independent Advisory Commission received resumes from 33 applicants by Friday’s deadline for the position created in the fiscal 2027 state budget, the Secretary of State’s office confirmed to Rhode Island Current. 

But the Secretary of State’s office did not comment on how many hold the certification required for the job.

“The final review and assessment of application materials is the responsibility of the commission,” LeeAnn Byrne, chief of staff for Secretary of State Gregg Amore, wrote in an email Monday. “As that process is still ongoing, we cannot share any details about applicants or applications at this time.”

The commission is made up of the attorney general, secretary of state, general treasurer, Ethics Commission executive director, and the president of the Association of Inspectors General. They are scheduled to meet at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the State House and have a Sept. 28 deadline to interview and recommend three finalists to Gov. Dan McKee. 

Will Fletcher, president of the New York-based Association of Inspectors General, said he expects the number of qualified applicants to be in the single digits. But he saw no problem with that small pool amid what he described as a “fairly robust response” to the job posting. 

“The number gives me confidence that the commission will have enough of a pool to work with to narrow down three candidates for the governor’s consideration,” he said.

Once chosen, the inaugural officeholder may serve for five years and be eligible for reappointment for one term of the same duration. The position will pay between $175,000 and $225,000 annually, a range the commission settled on during its July 29 meeting.

With a tight timeline looming, inspector general search panel agrees to open applications Monday

Applications for Rhode Island’s inspector general opened on Monday, Aug. 3, leaving a short window to conduct a nationwide search. The job posting crafted by the commission calls for a candidate with at least 10 years of experience in areas including investigations, law enforcement, auditing or government oversight, along with other qualifications.

The state’s top government watchdog must also have professional certification from the Association of Inspectors General, a requirement set in the state budget. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha repeatedly warned that the certification requirement could significantly limit the application pool. 

Tim Rondeau, a spokesperson for Neronha’s office, said in an email Monday the AG “is currently reviewing the applications received that are complete and meet the qualification requirements of the General Assembly.”

During the commission’s July 29 meeting, Fletcher noted that his organization has a current record of 1,129 certified inspectors general and 2,141 certified inspector general investigators.

Still, Fletcher said Monday that it was to be expected that more people would apply than meet the position’s certification and other requirements.

“So long as there are enough candidates for us to have meaningful discussions and interview candidates who want to serve in this role, then I think we’re in good shape,” he said.

The job posting states interviews will be held during a public meeting either in open or a closed executive session. A decision on the interview process is on the agenda for Wednesday’s commission meeting.

Interviews may be held in person or via video conference, according to the posting. Candidates who travel to attend an in-person interview may be eligible for reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses. 

Following advice from the Department of Administration in a July 21 letter, commissioners agreed on July 29 to cover the commission’s search-related costs with the $1.3 million allocated for the office in the state budget. That reimbursement also applies to Fletcher’s travel, as he takes the train from New York to attend the meetings and returns home afterward.