In a field of three ambitious and energized candidates, we believe Suzanne Bump is the best choice for Democrats voting in the Sept. 14 primary for state auditor.

Bump has leadership experience that spans both the private and public sectors, both elected office and gubernatorial appointment.

She has already managed a state agency as former director of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development under Gov. Deval Patrick, where she inherited a years-long backlog of cases. In response, she restructured the agency’s management without hiring more staff, shortening the “to-do” pile.

While Bump has not come out in full-throated support of lame duck pay raises outgoing Auditor Joe DeNucci made, neither would she, in her words, “politicize” the issue and take the raises away immediately upon entering office, preferring instead to look at how the office works and where the money is or is not justified. This reaction may not be popular with understandably angry taxpayers, but it is the measured response of an auditor.

Both of Bump’s Democratic opponents, Worcester County Sheriff Guy Glodis and Michael Lake, director of Northeastern University’s World Class Cities Partnership, have big plans for the office, and are formidable candidates. But we believe Suzanne Bump is the best Democrat to go up against the likely Republican candidate Mary Connaughton.