Zack Filipovich
TLDR: Zack Filipovich, 36, is an accountant from Duluth and the DFL-endorsed candidate for State Auditor. He served two four-year terms as an at-large Duluth City Councilor after first being elected in 2013, including time as council president. He works as a business consultant and finance manager at Northspan, a regional economic nonprofit, and is a Certified Management Accountant with an MBA from the University of Minnesota Duluth (2024). He is the only accountant in the race.
Zack FilipovichDemocratic-Farmer-Labor- Running for
- Minnesota State Auditor
- Work
- Finance manager at Northspan, a regional economic development nonprofit; Certified Management Accountant
- Lives in
- Duluth
- Background
- Duluth City Council, at-large, two four-year terms (first elected 2013) duluthnewstribune.com
- Former Duluth City Council president dfl.org
- Business consultant and finance manager, Northspan (regional economic development nonprofit) duluthnewstribune.com
- Certified Management Accountant; MBA, University of Minnesota Duluth (2024) wdio.com
- Former AFSCME Local 66 member edmnvotes.org
- Website
- zackformn.com
- [email protected]
- Raised
- $147,998, $67,429 on hand cfb.mn.gov
- Interviews
- Education MinnesotaKAXE election guide
- Also running
- Jay Reeves (Forward Independence), Scott Jensen (Republican)
Q: Where does Filipovich stand on fraud, waste and abuse?
A: Favors a "pro-active" approach: helping local finance officials find weak points in their processes so it is "harder for bad actors to get their hands on local tax dollars."
edmnvotes.orgQ: Where does Filipovich stand on scope of the office?
A: Says the office should stay focused on auditing local governments rather than using staff to audit state and federal programs, which he says would duplicate the Legislative Auditor's work.
edmnvotes.orgQ: Where does Filipovich stand on help for local governments?
A: Wants to give cities, townships, counties and school boards "the tools, data and support they need," including shared resources to address a shortage of finance professionals in greater Minnesota.
edmnvotes.orgQ: Where does Filipovich stand on transparency?
A: Pledges open houses and public forums, including an open forum in every county within his first year.
edmnvotes.orgQ: Where does Filipovich stand on qualifications?
A: Says he is the only accountant in the race and would be "the first accountant in this role in 50 years."
duluthnewstribune.comQ: Where does Filipovich stand on tax increment financing (TIF)?
A: Wants strong oversight so tax increment financing (TIF) is used "correctly and sparingly," including a "but for" test (showing a project would not happen without the subsidy) and clawback provisions that let governments recover money if a project falls short.
edmnvotes.org
