A pair of veteran Republicans will seek to retain their party's long-standing control over the offices of state treasurer and auditor on Election Day.

Ed Alter, who has served as state treasurer for 24 years, faces Democrat Debbie Hansen and two other challengers in his bid for re-election.

Auston Johnson, state auditor since his appointment in March 1995, is opposed by Democrat Carlos Vasquez and two third-party candidates.

Neither candidate faced a Democratic challenger four years ago. Alter was initially challenged by Democrat Buzz Hunt in 2000, but Hunt withdrew from the race when he learned his employer (Salt Lake City) would require him to take a leave of absence during the campaign.

In 1996, Alter garnered 57 percent of the vote to 39 percent for Democrat D'Arcy Dixon Pignanelli. Johnson, meanwhile, won his first election bid that year by 58 percent to 42 percent over Democrat Karen Truman.

The auditor's position is an accounting job with responsibility for keeping track of how the state spends tax revenue, and for auditing the financial records of state departments and agencies.

The 55-year-old Johnson, who survived a heart attack shortly after his re-election four years ago, began working in the auditor's office after graduating from Utah State University in 1976. He was appointed to the post when Tom Allen resigned. He was named 2002 Outstanding CPA in Business and Management by the Utah Association of CPAs.

Vasquez, a Fruit Heights resident, pledges to provide "frequent, independent, innovative and honest auditing of all appropriate entities" and to "restore integrity to government and make it accountable to the people."

Also in the auditor's race are Libertarian Mike Stoddard and Personal Choice candidate Valerie S. Larsen.

The treasurer's position handles about $6 billion in state revenues each year and manages the state's investments, which returned a reported $100 million last year. Under Alter, the state has maintained a top bond rating and has been ranked as one of the best-managed states in the country.

Hansen, an Ogden resident, argues now is the time "for a fresh, new perspective" in the treasurer's office. She would become the state's first female treasurer.

Also in the treasurer's race are Libertarian Jim Elwell, a Brigham City native and manufacturing executive, and Personal Choice candidate Mary A. Peterson.

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E-mail: zman@desnews.com