Tim DeFoor, the first person of color to win election to statewide office in the Commonwealth, was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday as Pennsylvania’s Auditor General.

The former Dauphin County controller won reelection in November by 350,000 votes.

“Almost four years ago today, I stood before you to take the oath of office as Pennsylvania’s Auditor General,” said DeFoor. “That day was historic, not just for me, but for all Pennsylvanians, as the first person of color to be elected to a statewide office in Pennsylvania, I understood that I’m here because of those who have paved the way for me, those who fought for their freedoms and fought to make sure my freedoms were preserved. To them, I owe an enormous debt, a debt that I can only repay by living my life in a way that honors them.

“Four years ago, when I first ran for this office, I learned what Pennsylvanians wanted from their elected officials,” he continued. “They wanted their elected officials to do their jobs, do their jobs, leave with common sense, regardless of political affiliation, and have their best interest in mind. They want their elected officials to be public servants who make their communities better. So when we took office, the first thing we had to do was listen and learn. Then went to work, transformed the department from the ground up.”

DeFoor praised his team for listening, learning, and then transforming the office.

“We found ways to prevent fraud in our state lottery system,” he said. “We transformed how our department audits schools to ensure the most impactful issues are being addressed, such as how schools are using your tax dollars. We also looked at how some pharmacy benefit managers in the Medicaid system are putting independently owned pharmacies out of business, leaving our most vulnerable, vulnerable population at risk.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro praised DeFoor for earning the trust of Pennsylvanians who gave him four more years in the position.

“It’s a testament to the work he’s done over the past four years that the people of Pennsylvania have put their trust in him once more,” said Shapiro.

“Public office is a public trust, and while we hold these positions, it’s on us to come together to work for the common good and to make progress for the good people of Pennsylvania. One thing I’ve always admired about auditor general DeFoor is how seriously he takes that charge. He stays focused on the task at hand and his charge from the Constitution are statutes and the people of Pennsylvania. He shows up every single day with a sense of purpose driven by his love for Pennsylvania and his belief that public service can and should make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Former Gov, Mark Schweiker spoke about DeFoor’s upbringing as a son of Dauphin County.

“He realized he’s an advocate for our neighbors, citizens, leaders, regular folks,” he said. “Tim doesn’t see himself as royalty. That’s not Tim DeFoor, and that’s what comes when you raised the right way. He was a midstate boy right here from Dauphin County who had the opportunity to serve the residents of Dauphin County as their controller. And that’s when people began to see around the state that this guy’s got it.”

DeFoor said that one of his main goals for this term is the importance of teaching financial literacy in Pennsylvania schools, “starting with our youth from kindergarten through 12th grade.

“Imagine the future with high school graduates who understand not just how to earn money, but how to save, invest and build lasting wealth,” he implored. “This is the generation that will drive our economy forward, create jobs and fuel innovation. They would need to learn that money is real, not credit on a video game. They will need to learn that college debt is real, not just numbers on the screen, and they will need to learn how to invest for the future and retirement.

“I strive to be a leader who does the job the way the job is supposed to be done, someone who draws conclusions based on facts, not politics, and serves the people of Pennsylvania,” said DeFoor. “By improving government, not tearing it down. In the four years since I’ve been Auditor General, I’ve held up to those principles because I truly believe in the purpose of this office.”