Dan Miles
City Auditor Candidate
City Auditor Candidate
- How long have you lived In Long Beach?
I am a lifelong resident of Long Beach and attended high school and college here. Long Beach is where my wife Rita and I proudly raised our family. - What job or past role will most help you be an effective City Auditor?
I am a CPA with 35-years of financial management experience helping to run major Fortune 500 companies such as Coors and Pepsi. I finished my career at Reed’s Inc a NYSE company. I built a strong reputation based on integrity, transparency, and accountability. In 2015, I consulted for the Port of Long Beach where I compiled the annual budgets and year financial reports. These are the main financial reports of any government entity. Due to my background and experience, I believe I am uniquely qualified to serve as City Auditor. - Describe the key characteristics/elements that you feel unify this city across its 9 districts and disparate geography.
Restoring the trust in our government. Opening the check book for everyone to see how their money is spent. - Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I do not seek fame or notoriety but do enjoy being with people. I prefer family, friends, neighbors, and conversation always. - Which (living) national leader in any arena — politics, arts, culture, business, etc. — do you admire and why?
I truly believe we have to think globally but act locally. That’s why I don’t want to pick a national leader, rather the person I admire is the Long Beach City Auditor’s whistleblower. It is so incredibly difficult to stand up to power for what you think is right, especially when it is not a popular opinion. I strive to do what is right by the City of Long Beach taxpayers, regardless of how difficult. - What is your favorite L.B. hangout with friends and/or family?
Dutch’s Brewhouse - List the top three quality-of-life issues you see Belmont Shore/Long Beach residents dealing with right now.
Ensure that public safety is properly funded and that the scorecards used to track crime are accurate.
The recent CA court rulings that Water and Sewer fees were unconstitutionally assessed to Long Beach rate payers is a glowing example of why residents have lost trust in their government. I will work to ensure that Long Beach residents are properly and fully refunded the $30 million in water and sewer fees that the court ordered repaid.
The public should have open access to how their money is spent in Long Beach. Transparency ensures accountability. I will work to bring Open Checkbook to Long Beach, in order to provide public access to data related to government spending, budgets, contracts, and revenue. By ensuring that our money is properly raised and spent, we can make certain that essential public services are properly funded. - What is your preferred or most used social media platform?
As an individual, I spend little time on social media beyond interacting with my family. However, I believe that social media can be a very effective and important tool for our government to better serve the public. Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter – to name three of the most popular platforms – can each be utilized to eductate and engage the public, as well as keep people well informed. - Outside of Long Beach, where in the state is your happy place?
San Francisco!! My few years away from Long Beach were spent in San Francisco and the city will always remind me of fond memories and friends. - Name something about Long Beach you wish more people were aware of?
Having lived in Long Beach my entire life, I believe our community to be a very special place with wonderful people. We have 340 days of sunshine each year. I am very fortunate to have always called Long Beach my home. In the context of our city government, I wish more people were aware of the importance of the office of City Auditor to Long Beach. The City Auditor is the watchdog for our money. It is the Auditor’s job to prevent and root out waste and abuse. The person serving as City Auditor must be independent in their approach, have high integrity, and be trusted to serve the public interest.