OGDEN — Weber County Clerk/Auditor Ricky Hatch is looking to take his talents to the state level.

On Thursday, Hatch told the Standard-Examiner that he has filed to run for the state auditor position in 2024.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” he said. “People have asked me for several years if that was my next step. I love public service that is closest to the people and the county is close to the people, so it was really challenging.”

However, Hatch said he sees several parallels between himself and current Auditor John Dougall, who announced this week he will not seek reelection.

“We both came into office with existing good offices and I feel like we’ve both taken them up to a much higher level of service and efficiency,” Hatch said. “I just want to keep the momentum that he’s established. I nominated him at the state convention back in 2012. I believed in him then and I want to continue what he’s done with making not just the office but government in general more transparent, more accountable and more efficient. I feel I’ve done that with the auditor’s office.”

He said he views this step as a continuation of his service to the people.

“I wouldn’t see this as a promotion, it’s just a different area of service, and I’m excited to use the skills and experience that I’ve gathered my whole career, both in and outside of government, to further the vision,” he said.

Hatch said he’s still working on his full vision for the position, but if elected, he wants to make sure the state auditor’s office doesn’t go in the wrong direction.

“I’m still figuring out the numerous duties of the state auditor,” he said. “One key component is, whatever that office is doing right now, I want to take that and make sure it doesn’t slide in any way. Basically, take that ball and run with it.”

He added that he would like to boost the office’s communication and support for local jurisdictions throughout the state.

“They all have budgeting and financial reporting requirements,” he said. “The state auditor’s office has done a good job at reaching out to them, and I think we can do a better job.”

Hatch said his previous professional experiences in financial auditing, business, information technology and local elections have prepared him to take on such a role.

Still, he said leaving his position in Weber County isn’t the easiest prospect.

“I absolutely love where I work, love working with Weber County,” he said. “We’ve got a world-class team that provides excellent services to the citizens and voters of Weber County, and the thought of leaving that really breaks my heart because I absolutely love it. But this feels like the right thing to do.”

As of Thursday afternoon, Hatch was the only candidate to have filed for the state auditor position, according to the state of Utah’s elections page.

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