Leslie W. Merritt, Jr., CPA, CFP
State Auditor / STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
Office of the State Auditor / 2 S. Salisbury Street
20601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0601
Telephone: (919) 807-7500
Fax: (919) 807-7647
Internet http://www.ncauditor.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For Additional Information Contact: Chris Mears, Director of Public Affairs
Office: (919) 807-7566
Cell: (919) 306-4301
Requested Investigations Reveal Political Campaigning in State Offices
RALEIGH, NC – January 31, 2008
Today, the Office of the State Auditor released two investigative reports on the use of State resources for active participation in political campaigns. The first was requested by Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue’s General Counsel which alleged the use of State Treasurer’s resources as an active part of the State Treasurer’s campaign for Governor. The second was a request by State Treasurer Richard Moore’s Campaign Manager to investigate similar activity in the Lt. Governor’s office. Both investigative reports reveal evidence of active political campaigning using State resources.
“I recognize that these allegations may be a political football, but as the independent State Auditor I have a statutory obligation to review any allegation of misconduct without respect to its motivation,” State Auditor Leslie Merritt said.
Allegations centered on State employees performing campaign-related activities on State time and in some cases using State resources. State policy allows for public employees to make reasonable personal use of a provided State network or internet resources. However, both investigations found activity that rose above a reasonable personal use to a level of active participation in political campaigns.
“Both the Treasurer and the Lt. Governor reached out to the State Auditor’s office because of our ability to professionally and independently investigate all allegations and issue reports that are fair to everyone involved,” said State Auditor Leslie Merritt. “But let’s remember that when State resources and personnel are used for political campaigning, it’s the taxpayers that get stuck with the bill.”
###