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Robert
E. Fronke
Long
Beach City Auditor 1976 - 1992
 Robert
(Bob) Fronke became City Auditor in 1976 to complete
the term of retiring City Auditor, Murray T. Courson.
Usually, the City Auditor is elected; however, when
an unexpected vacancy occurs, the City Council
appoints the position. Fronke was a Certified Public
Accountant in private practice when he applied, and
from a field of six candidates, his appointment was
voted unanimously. After serving for Courson’s
remaining term, Fronke was elected to four
additional four-year terms.
Fronke was a strong defender of the independence of
the Office of the Auditor. In 1979 a Charter
Revision Advisory Committee recommended a change in
City charter language to limit the City Auditor to
financial audits and to prohibit operational audits
unless specifically requested by the City Council.
The City Council unanimously voted against such a
change in the charter, agreeing with Fronke that
independent, operational or performance audits
improved the efficiency and effectiveness of local
government.
Great technological changes occurred during Fronke's
time in office, and the City's financial and
accounting systems became computerized with the
installation of the new Financial Management
Information System (FAMIS).
The City still uses a version of the FAMIS system
today, but its original installation created a
nightmare of unintended consequences for the
Auditor's office due to a fast-tracked
implementation, errors and delays, untrained
personnel, and procedural changes. The new system
had so many problems that during one month, checks
for the City's business were handwritten because
they couldn't be printed!
During this extremely difficult transition from the
City's former ledger system, the Auditor's office
was unable to obtain accurate information from the
Department of Finance for financial reports. It was
months before the system was operating smoothly,
with errors corrected and accounts verified. Fronke
led the Auditor's office in overcoming these
challenges, and he also automated the Auditor's
office.
One of Fronke’s major contributions was to establish
the regular practice of operational audits for City
departments. In 1979 a Blue Ribbon Charter Revision
Advisory Committee recommended to the City Council
that the City Charter be amended to limit the
authority of the City Auditor to exclude operational
audits unless specifically requested by the Council.
In this contentious dispute, City Auditor Fronke
prevailed by convincing the City Council that the
scope of modern auditing includes operations or
performance audits. He demonstrated that operational
audits, when combined with traditional financial
audits, produced cost savings from efficiencies and
improved effectiveness. Fronke’s views were
supported by former City Auditor Murray T. Courson
and in public hearings, Courson advocated for
operational audits and said that he and his
predecessor, John Mansell often conducted expanded
audits.
Robert Fronke retired from the City Auditor’s Office
in October 1992 to take a faculty position at
Pepperdine University School of Business and
Management. Upon his retirement, the Independent
Press Telegram wrote an editorial entitled, “A City
in Debt to Its Auditor.” The article acknowledged
his contributions to the City, “As for the past 16
years, even detractors of the office say nothing
negative about Fronke as auditor. He rubbed some
people the wrong way, but for the right reasons. His
suggestions led to consolidation of oil operations,
computerized accounting and improved handling of
everything from parking tickets to bus fares. When
he spoke out, it was with insight, clarity and
honesty. When he leaves, it will be with a city in
his debt.”
Bob Fronke continues to be a valuable resource to
Long Beach through his many community activities,
and the City continues to benefit from Bob’s service
after his retirement. He is generous with his
knowledge of City government and has served on a
committee to study Charter reform. He is an active
member and past President of Long Beach Rotary and
is on the Board of Trustees of American Gold Star
Manor in Long Beach.
In Robert Fronke’s own words:
Understanding his responsibilities to the
citizens of Long Beach:
“As city auditor I have attempted to monitor the
city’s activities to insure the citizens of Long
Beach are receiving the best in financial management
and fiscal responsibility. As our problems grow, it
is my belief the role of the auditor goes beyond
that of just financial auditing and control. It must
also include positive recommendations and
suggestions for improving efficiency and making more
effective use of taxpayers’ money in all city
operations.”
Long Beach Independent, December 1977
Communicating the importance of performance
audits:
“…attesting to balance sheets and operations
statements is an important function but not the
whole ball game.”
Long Beach Independent, July 1979
“It’s clear from what is happening in the federal,
state and other local governments, the role of the
auditor is expanding. There is pressure from
taxpayers to obtain more and better information
about the operation of their government.
Long Beach Independent, July 1979
Explaining the City’s budget process:
Click here
to read Can You Budge City’s Budget?, a 1983 Press
Telegram article written by City Auditor Robert
Fronke, explaining the budget process and
encouraging citizens to become involved in the
process.
 Staff Contact:
You are encouraged to contact Olivia Silva Maiser, Director of Communications at
562-570-6434 or at
Olivia_Maiser@longbeach.gov
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