State Auditor John Keel Resigning After More than Decade

After more than a decade at the job, State Auditor John Keel plans to retire as of Jan. 4, his office confirmed Monday.

"When I accepted my current job on Dec. 1, 2004, I expected to be here approximately 6 years," Keel wrote in a letter Monday to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus. "It has now been almost 11 years, which is long enough for one individual to serve as State Auditor."

During Keel's tenure, state audits have often been central to state investigations into malfeasance or corruption. In his resignation letter, Keel listed several audits over the years he viewed as "challenging and high-profile," including a 2007 audit of the Texas Youth Commission, a 2013 audit of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and a 2014 audit of the Texas Enterprise Fund. 

Before becoming auditor, Keel held a long list of jobs in state government, including director of the Legislative Budget Board and stints for the comptroller, attorney general and former Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock.

"It has been my goal to provide leadership to the State Auditor's Office based on integrity, judgment and independence." Keel said. "I may have accomplished that."