ROCHESTER — Former Long Lake Mayor Randy Gilbert has won Republican backing in his second bid for the state auditor’s post.

Gilbert has an accounting background and was the only candidate for the Republican endorsement awarded Friday at the Minnesota GOP convention in Rochester.

The auditor is charged to be an independent watchdog that examines the books of cities, counties, other government entities and pension funds. Gilbert says Democratic Auditor Rebecca Otto hasn’t lived up to the task. He also criticized her stance as the lone statewide official to oppose a set of mining permits in northeastern Minnesota.

Otto is seeking a third term. She is up for endorsement at her party’s convention Saturday in Duluth.

Gilbert ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for auditor in 2010.