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Last week, headlines were brimming in North Carolina’s political circles when disgraced former N.C. State Auditor Beth Wood, a Democrat, suddenly, after being forced to leave office after 15 years last December, not only endorsed conservative Republican state auditor candidate Dave Boliek, but blasted her successor, current State Auditor Democrat Jessica Holmes. Woods told both WRAL-TV and The News and Observer newspaper in Raleigh that Holmes,
“… doesn’t have a clue;”“… was picked because of race and gender, hoping to make her more electable;” is “not qualified;” “… clearly, ... does not understand what the function of that job is;” and “... can’t lead what you yourself don’t understand.”
Top Democrats, from the chairperson of the North Carolina Democratic Party to Gov. Roy Cooper’s office, immediately shot back, noting that Wood was no longer respected. Wood pleaded guilty to misusing state-owned vehicles for her personal use, with one incident resulting in a hit-and-run drunk-driving accident in December 2022, only to now return to the public eye to demean her Black female successor and endorse Holmes’ Republican opponent for the Nov. 5 General Election.
But why is Wood stepping out on such a long limb now? Knowing that she’s persona non grata in the Democratic Party, why openly use her name to not just promote Republican Dave Boliek, even though he admittedly has no certified public accountant experience qualifying him to lead the N.C. Auditor’s Office, but trash incumbent Holmes, who has successfully been on the job since last December when Gov. Cooper appointed her?
Thus far, in answer to the controversy, Holmes has only issued a statement, which says in part, “I inherited an incredibly competent but demoralized staff, and audits that were several years old, some of which were fiscally irresponsible and /or politically or personally motivated fishing expeditions intended to make headlines as opposed to making a difference to ensure the public’s trust in government spending.”
“I stand by my approach, and statutory responsibility, to be the state’s “independent” auditor, to be solutions-oriented to prevent fraud, waste and abuse, and to call it out without bias or political puppeteering.”
Holmes’ statement is loaded with allegations that the state Auditor’s Office she took over nine months ago was beset not only with low morale (she lost several members of the staff upon arriving), who, despite their professionalism, were previously forced to produce “… audits that were several years old, some of which were fiscally irresponsible and or politically or personally motivated fishing expeditions intended to make headlines …”
In short, that’s an indictment of former Auditor Wood, and the alleged manner she conducted business during her tenure there.
Add to that sources within state government that confirm that during her tenure, Wood developed good relationships with legislative Republicans, and specifically former Gov. Pat McCrory.
Given the unceremonious way she was drummed out of office nine months ago, being dismissive now of her Democratic successor, and fully supportive of Holmes’ Republican opponent, seems to make more sense.
Last April, Dave Boliek, a staunch MAGA conservative Republican, notably led the effort to defund DEI efforts on UNC-Chapel Hill University’s campus as chair of the Board of Trustee’s Budget Committee.
As a result, $2.5 million was removed from the budget that funded the UNC DEI office, forcing it to close. Boliek described the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion policies from the UNC - Chapel Hill campus as “nondiscrimination.”
Boliek has also said if elected state auditor, he would create an “Office of Election Integrity,” even though North Carolina has almost no instances of voter corruption on record.
And Boliek, during a recent candidates’ forum in Cary, came out in support of MAGA state supt. of Public Instruction candidate Michele Morrow, who has touted attending the January 6th takeover of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and has called for the execution of former Pres. Barack Obama by firing squad on pay-per-view television.
Despite all of the above, Wood told the N&O that her endorsement of Boliek “…was based solely on which candidate she felt has ‘the competencies, the experience, and the expertise to run that agency.’ “I’m just shocked that people are up in the air because I’ve picked a Republican,” Wood continued. “It’s not about party to me, it’s never been about party. It’s about who’s the most qualified.”
Despite Wood’s opposition, Auditor Holmes has been endorsed for election by most of the state Democratic Party’s top elected leadership, and recently, SEANC (the State Employees Association of North Carolina).
