Steve Burrage is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 politician from Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

 and the former Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector

Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector

The Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector is the chief financial officer for the U.S. State of Oklahoma. The State Auditor and Inspector is responsible for overseeing and reviewing the financial accounts of all government agencies within Oklahoma....

. Burrage was appointed as State Auditor by the Governor of Oklahoma

Governor of Oklahoma

The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...

 Brad Henry

Brad Henry

Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...

 on July 10, 2008, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of former State Auditor Jeff McMahan, serving until his defeat in the 2010 election by Republican Gary Jones

Gary Jones (Oklahoma politician)

Gary Jones is a United States businessman and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. He is the current Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector.-Personal:...

.

Early life

Steve Burrage was born in Durant, Oklahoma

Durant, Oklahoma

Durant is a city in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 15,877 at the 2010 census. Durant is the principal city of the Durant Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 42,416 in 2010...

. A member of the Choctaw Nation

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a semi-autonomous Native American homeland comprising twelve tribal districts. The Choctaw Nation maintains a special relationship with both the United States and Oklahoma governments...

, he is the brother of former U.S. District Court Judge Michael Burrage, and the uncle of State Senator Sean Burrage

Sean Burrage

Sean Burrage has represented Oklahoma State Senate district 2 since 2006. The district is located in Rogers and Mayes County.Sean and Carole Burrage have been married for 15 years and have two sons: Truman, 13, and Carter, 5...

. In 1975, he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...

. Following his graduation from college, he attained licensure as a certified public accountant

Certified Public Accountant

Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...

 in Oklahoma. He began his professional career as a Partner in the C.P.A. firm of Burgess and Burrage from 1977 to 1982. In 1982, he joined FirstBank of Antlers, Oklahoma

Antlers, Oklahoma

Antlers is a city in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. The population was 2,552 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pushmataha County.-Geography:Antlers is located at...

, serving as president and CEO from then until 1984, when he assumed additional duties as Chairman of the Board. He served as president until 1990, as CEO until 2005, and as Chairman of the Board until 2008.

Political career

Upon accepting his appointment as State Auditor and Inspector, he announced that he will seek a full term in the 2010 election if he felt he'd had success.

Burrage's office audited the Wagoner, Oklahoma

Wagoner, Oklahoma

Wagoner is a city in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 7,669 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wagoner County.-Geography:Wagoner is located at ....

school district and identified $270,000 missing from the district's child nutrition program from 2005 to 2009.