DOVER – Ruth Ann Jones and Bert Scoglietti have been appointed to serve as Controller General and Deputy Controller General of the Delaware General Assembly respectively, legislative leaders announced Tuesday, Dec. 22.
Together, they will lead the Legislature’s nonpartisan fiscal policy agency. The Controller General’s Office reviews the budgetary impact of proposed legislation drafted by lawmakers and provides analysis and guidance to the joint committees that craft the state’s annual budget bills.
The appointments were made by Legislative Council, a committee of leaders from both parties in the House and Senate responsible for operational matters in the General Assembly.
Jones is the first woman appointed Controller General and one of the youngest legislative financial officers in the country. She has worked in the Office of the Controller General since 2018 and most recently served as acting head of the agency, following the retirement of Controller General Michael Morton earlier this year. Prior to joining the office, she held key fiscal and budgetary positions in several state agencies. Jones will earn a master’s degree in management and public administration from Wilmington University in August.
“I want to thank the leaders of the Delaware General Assembly for choosing me to lead this office,” Jones said. “Serving as a financial steward for the people of Delaware is a great honor and I’m thrilled the members of all four caucuses have entrusted me to help them craft a balanced budget each year.”
Mr. Scoglietti has filled senior roles in the state’s Office of Management and Budget and its predecessor agency, the Delaware Budget Office, for more than two decades. His responsibilities have included the development, negotiation and implementation of the Governor’s budget proposals, working with legislators on matters of fiscal policy, and responding to budgetary inquiries from the press and members of the public.
“Ruth Ann’s distinguished career in public service and state government, including serving as a close second-in-command to Mike Morton in recent years, has prepared her well for this role. Ruth Ann is the first woman to be appointed Controller General and I couldn’t be more proud of her achievement,” said House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf in a statement. “Many of us know Bert as a trusted expert in the often complicated realm of fiscal management and policy, having served in senior positions across four gubernatorial administrations. His experience and deep knowledge of the inner workings of the state budget will be an invaluable resource.”
“The Controller General’s Office never gets the headlines, but their work is absolutely vital to the General Assembly’s operations and our efforts to improve the lives of Delawareans,” said Senate President Pro Tempore-Elect David Sokola in a statement.. “Ruth Ann and Bert give us one of the best leadership teams we’ve ever had in that office and I’m excited to get to work with them on a budget that addresses the needs of our constituents.”
“Ruth Ann has done a great job running the department since the retirement of our former Controller General. She is smart, articulate, and responsive to inquiries from the legislators. I am excited Ruth Ann has agreed to take on this critical leadership role. She will be able to hit the ground running,” said Senate Minority Leader Gerald Hocker in a statement.. “I have been incredibly impressed with the work Bert has done at the Office of Management and Budget. His knowledge about state of Delaware operations and the budget process will be an asset to the CG’s Office.”
Rep. Danny Short, House Minority Leader, in a statement said, “We are excited to have both Ruth Ann and Bert in their respective positions with the Controller General’s Office. Together, they bring the expertise and wisdom the Legislature’s budgeting process will benefit from. Their institutional knowledge within state government is also unmatched and we welcome them as we begin a new legislative session in a few weeks.”
