About Daune

Duane Davidson was elected as Washington’s 23rd state treasurer in 2016, winning a majority of the vote in all 39 counties of Washington State. Prior to his election as state treasurer, Duane had a long career as a public treasurer and government finance professional both as a four-term county treasurer and chief accountant for Benton County. Duane served the state for several years as an assistant state auditor, auditing local governments, and began his career as a certified public accountant (CPA). 

Duane holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting from Central Washington University.

Duane has a long history of bringing efficiency and transparency to the governments under his charge. The Benton County Treasurer’s office had an unblemished audit record and underwent a modernization of tax payment processing that increased efficiency and tax payment options including online credit/debit payments. Benton County was a statewide leader in obtaining legislation that allowed for payment plans to be offered in lieu of tax foreclosure, reducing the number of properties subject to foreclosure and saving people’s homes. County general obligation debt was reduced by half during his administration.

As  state treasurer, Duane led Washington state in receiving a Triple- A bond rating for the first time in state history. The office also developed the Washington State Fund Directory, which allows state agencies and local governments to more easily find resources available for financing projects. By his own initiative, Duane created an internal auditor position within OST to monitor office activities and transactions. While in office, Duane has also expanded investment options for local governments to assist in longer term options at attractive rates. He has also created a financial education outreach division working to educate local communities and families to take control of their personal finances, further bettering our great state.

Duane was born and raised in eastern King County near the town of Carnation where he graduated from Tolt High School. He and his late wife Kathy raised three children whom all live in Eastern Washington.​