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WORLAND - Cheyenne resident Jeff Dockter and Democratic candidate for state auditor hopes to visit all 99 incorporated municipalities this year.

Dockter, who came to Worland late Friday night to attend Saturday's Washakie County Democratic Convention, said he is running primarily a grassroots campaign in which he wants to get to know the state of Wyoming. His co-pilot is his wife of 12 years, Jenny.

He said he hopes to visit all 99 communities between now and the general election in November, but added he does not want to be presumptuous in case another Democrat comes in to the race so he will be working to visit as many as possible before the Aug. 21 primary. He said he's starting with attending the county democratic conventions, his first in Johnson County a week ago and Washakie County on Saturday. Still working full time, Dockter said he and his wife hit the road at 5 p.m. on Fridays.

"I've been thinking about running for office for some time," Dockter said during an interview at the Worland Community Center Complex. He said he wanted to find a position where he could use his 15 years in state government as well as make a difference in the lives of the state residents.

In an interview with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, when he first announced his campaign, Dockter cites his work in state government in the Department of Family Services and Enterprise Technology Services and as a program manager as qualifying traits for the auditor's office.

In Saturday's interview Dockter noted that he inherited a system that took 45-60 days to process payments to vendors and he was able to cut that time down to about four hours.

Dockter also holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Montana and a master's from the University of Wyoming in public administration.

While no official accounting or business degrees, Dockter said his experience preparing budgets and program audits for the Weatherization Assistance Program at DFS will be an asset in the position.

Dockter, who grew up in Circle, Montana, and moved to Wyoming 20 years ago, said he felt the time was right. "I'll be 47 next month and it just feels like the right time."

If elected, Dockter said one of his goals is to make the state auditor's office more innovative and interactive. "I want it be more business friendly and make information available so communities have access to information about how state money is being spent in their communities," Dockter said.

Along with innovation, Dockter is also emphasizing transparency in government. "Decisions need to be made in such a matter that the process is transparent," he said, adding that it is also important to get the appropriate feedback before making decisions.

Jenny Dockter said Jeff has mentioned running for office since she met him 15 years ago.

"I've worked in state government for 21 years and worked with the state auditor's office. The auditor's office is the perfect fit for him," she said, noting his experience in overseeing LEIAP (low income energy assistance program) and his ability and experience in understanding the state's compliance programs and issues.

She added, "The public doesn't understand the importance of the auditor position." She said every report in the state goes through the state's accounting system and it is important that the accounting system is updated and run efficiently. "If the state audit and accounting system is not working, the government shuts down," she said, noting that all state payments go through the state auditor's office.

She said Jeff's work at the state government level has given him the experience to understand how the accounting systems at the state and federal levels work and that's important for the state auditor position.

"I believe in good government. That's where my passion is, to improve the processes and to improve efficiency."

Currently no other Democrat has announced for the position. State Rep. Nathan Winters of Thermopolis announced last week he would not seek re-election to the legislature but rather seek the Republican nomination for state auditor.

Winters stated that current state auditor, Cynthia Cloud, has indicated she would not seek a third term.

Jeff Dockter and Jenny live in Cheyenne. Together, they have two children and five grandchildren.