OLYMPIA -- State Auditor Troy Kelley, who has had his home searched by federal agents and documents collected from state offices, received an invitation to appear next week before the Senate Accountability and Reform Committee.

Committee Chairman Mark Miloscia sent Kelley an invitation to what the letter described as  "a work session on what various agencies are achieving regarding fraud and accountability." But Miloscia, R-Federal Way, made clear he wanted Kelley to address the controversy surrounding the federal investigation, offering a synopsis of the news coverage thus far, "The reports of federal investigations centered on you and your business dealings raise questions about the public's trust in your ability to carry out this role effectively," Miloscia wrote.

"It is important that your address these matters personally, in public testimony," he added in the invitation to the he work session -- some might call it a work-over session.

Doug Cochran, Kelley's chief of staff, said Thursday afternoon the office was "sending it his direction. . . He'll have to decide how to respond to it." 

Those with reasonably long political memories may recall that Miloscia and Kelley were both candidates for the auditor's job in the crowded 2012 state primary. Democrat Kelley finished second, to Republican James Watkins, whom he beat in the genera.; Miloscia, who was then running as a Democrat, finished fourth, behind Democrat Craig Pridemore.

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