Comptroller General (D): Tiffany Boozer, CPA; Bruce K. Cole, Ph.D., CPA

TIFFANY BOOZER, CPA

Why are you running?

The comptroller general's role is professional, not political! I’m running because I believe the state’s accounting office should be led by a trained accountant. The management and reporting of taxpayer dollars is essential, and I want to ensure state financial reporting is accurate, transparent and easy to understand. People deserve clear information about how public funds are used, and the systems behind that information should be strong and reliable.

Have you run for political office before? If so, explain:

No, this is my first time running for office.

Where and how long have you lived in South Carolina?

I was raised in Clinton and later moved to Columbia, where I graduated from Lower Richland High School. I also attended college right here in South Carolina. This state has always been home, and I’m dedicated to doing my part to keep South Carolina thriving for generations to come!

Current job/profession:

I’m a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and currently serve as an internal auditor within the South Carolina Comptroller General’s Office, where I work on strengthening internal controls, reviewing financial processes and helping ensure the accuracy of state accounting records.

What makes you qualified for the seat?

I am a CPA with over 10 years of audit experience in both government and private sector roles. That background has given me a strong foundation in financial reporting, internal controls, compliance and risk management. In my current position, I work directly with state financial systems, which gives me practical insight into how public funds are tracked and reported. I understand both the technical side of accounting and the importance of accountability in public service.

What challenges/concerns do you see in South Carolina (up to 3), especially relating to the Comptroller General’s role, and how do you intend to improve them?

Financial accountability: State financial records must be accurate and dependable. I support strengthening internal controls and oversight processes to reduce errors and improve consistency in reporting.
2. Modernizing financial processes: Some state processes are still outdated. Updating systems and underlying sources would improve efficiency, reduce manual work and help ensure more timely and accurate reporting.
3. Transparency and clarity of financial information: While progress has been made, financial data can still be difficult for the public to interpret. I would work to improve reporting tools so taxpayers can better understand how funds are used over time.

What successes have you seen that you want to build on?

The Comptroller General’s Office has made meaningful progress with the transparency portal. I would build on that work by enhancing it to include year-over-year comparisons so the public can clearly see trends and changes in state spending and revenues. I also support expanding detail in areas identified as higher risk to strengthen accountability and understanding.

Are you actively involved in your community? How so?

Yes. I serve as treasurer and a graduate of the Talented Tenth Organization, which focuses on developing and investing in future leaders. I am also actively involved at Forward City Church, where I participate in community and faith-based engagement. In addition, I founded Blacklist Network, a professional network designed to connect individuals from all backgrounds and across all industries to encourage collaboration and career development.

BRUCE K. COLE, PH.D., CPA

Why are you running?

I am running for several reasons. First of all, I have been very blessed with a wonderful education, career opportunities and life experiences, and I want to pay this forward.

Secondly, I want to set an example for others who have thought about running for public office.
Third, for those who can identify with my candidacy (e.g., the thousands of students I have taught, people I’ve met through church and other activities, etc.), I want to give them a reason to vote and become civically involved.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I want to help our state improve its performance. South Carolina is in the 20th percentile of the country on a number of performance measures (e.g., crime, economic opportunity, education, infrastructure, etc.). I want to help the citizens of South Carolina get the value that they deserve for their tax dollars.

Have you run for political office before? If so, explain:

Yes. I was a candidate for the position of public service commissioner for S.C. Congressional District 2. My campaign was unsuccessful.

I was a candidate for a competitive board position with the Cable Cooperative of Palo Alto, California (80,000 subscribers), where I served for five years.

Where and how long have you lived in South Carolina?

My family roots are in Edgefield County. However, I moved to Forest Acres from Boston, Massachusetts, with my wife and two children in 2006 to teach at Allen University. Prior to that, we had a vacation home in Beaufort.

Current job/profession:

I manage a real estate investment fund. Also, I am still involved in academia. Since 2006, I have taught college and done research in the areas of real estate and public value creation. I also have a personal finance book in pre-publication that has been used this past year by freshmen at the University of North Carolina. In 2023-25, I established an undergraduate real estate program at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina.

What makes you qualified for the seat?

I bring a rare combination of real-world experience and academic rigor to this race. But credentials alone don't move the needle…results do. I have degrees from Harvard, Stanford, Northeastern and Clemson universities. I have worked in some of the finest companies and institutions in the world and have been exposed to incredible character-building experiences. I have a proven track record as a financial executive who creates value for public and private institutions, with a special expertise in navigating complex environments. For example, I ran a $25 million product line for AT&T, doubling its revenue in two years and cutting costs by half. I served as CFO of the Boston Public Library (the nation’s oldest) where I managed more than $1 billion in assets. The board of directors of the John Hancock Life Insurance company asked me to cut the costs necessary for the firm to go public, and I delivered $200 million in annual savings. I received a special award from TRW Inc. for successfully launching high-tech companies in Silicon Valley using their cold-war era, defense industry technologies. These aren't campaign talking points. They are a track record.

What challenges/concerns do you see in South Carolina (up to 3), especially relating to Sumter and the Midlands, and how do you intend to improve them?

South Carolina faces a real fiscal challenge ahead. As federal funding to states is expected to decline, state government will be asked to deliver more with less. The comptroller general's office must be prepared to meet that moment with stronger performance measurements across state agencies, greater transparency in how taxpayer dollars are spent and governance built on accountability rather than habit.

But I also believe the citizens of South Carolina should help shape this agenda. Our citizens know where state government is falling short. They know which services matter most to them, their family and their community. I look forward to holding workshops in Sumpter and throughout the Midlands, helping citizens to understand and use the data the CG’s office provides and developing metrics grounded in the lived experience of the people the agency is meant to serve.

What successes have you seen that you want to build on?

Through our nonprofit, the Richard T. Greener Institute, we have held successful workshops across the state that have brought together business owners, community leaders and academics to discuss policies that are important to them.

Some of my former colleagues at the Darla Moore School of Business have made initial arrangements with several state agencies with respect to planning and program evaluation. I want to build on these initiatives to create robust performance measures that can be used by both our state’s civil servants and our citizens to ensure that agencies are delivering value for taxpayer dollars spent.

Are you actively involved in your community? How so?

Former commissioner of the Richland County Airport Commission
Former state chair of the Sierra Club (winner of the Joe Neal Award)
Former board member of Conservation Voters of South Carolina
Member, Friends of the Thomas Cooper Library
Board member of the South Carolina Council on Economic Education
Member of the First Nazareth Baptist Church Brotherhood Men’s Chorus
President, Richard T. Greener Institute for Social Policy Research
Member, New York State Society of CPAs (developing continuing education training for CPAs)
Member, American Real Estate Society