YAKIMA, Wash. -- Skamania County Auditor J. Michael Garvison, who earlier this year sought appointment to a state House seat in the 15th District, is under investigation by the state Auditor’s Office for his use of county funds.

The Clark County newspaper The Columbian first reported the investigation Friday, saying Garvison has billed the county $83,000 for travel expenses since the start of 2008. That includes payment for trips to Las Vegas, Montreal, Florida and Washington, D.C.

Garvison, who went by “Mike Garvison” during the appointment process, denies any wrongdoing.

He was in the news locally earlier this year as a candidate for the legislative seat vacated by former state Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, who became head of the state Agriculture Department. In February Garvison told the Herald-Republic his experience dealing with budgets as an auditor would help him, were he appointed to the Legislature.

He pointed to staff cuts he’d made in the Skamania County Auditor’s Office and said the state should show similar financial restraint.

“We have to get our fiscal house in order,” he said at the time.

Garvison did not make it past the first round of cuts in the appointment process. The seat ultimately went to David Taylor, R-Moxee, who was elected Tuesday to finish the term.

- Pat Muir