Beth Wood

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on September 6, 2007 - 5:37pm.
Tags:

Office District Status
State Auditor Statewide Candidate
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Democrat
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
April 22, 1954 New Bern, NC Raleigh, NC

Synopsis

Beth Wood hopes to replace her old boss. After working for 15 years in the state auditor's office, she ran for the Democratic nomination for auditor in 2008, beating retired Army colonel Fred Aikens by a substantial margin. She now faces incumbent Republican Les Merritt in November. Although she signed up for a new public campaign finance program, she failed to qualify.

Trivia

Likes to dance the shag, snow and water ski, and read bestselling authors John Grisham, James Patterson and Stephen King. 

Endorsements

Biography

Marital Status
Single
Spouse
Children

Beth Wood is the Democratic nominee for state auditor and a former employee of the auditor's office.

Early Life and Education

Beth Ann Wood was born on April 22, 1954, in New Bern, and grew up on a tobacco and soybean farm. 

She graduated from West Craven High School in Vanceboro 1972, then earned an associate's degree as a dental hygienist from Wayne Community College in Goldsboro.

After graduation, she worked as a dental hygienist for 10 years. She worked part-time to put herself through East Carolina University, where she earned an accounting degree.

Professional Career 

She worked for 15 years for the state auditor's office, most recently as director of training.

She now works as a certified public accountant for the American Institute of CPAs in Durham. 

Political Career

Wood has never run for public office before. 

Auditor '08

In August of 2007, Wood told party activists that she was considering a run, but she did not officially kick off her campaign until September. 

She had a dispute with incumbent Republican auditor Les Merritt over her last day of work.

She is running for the Democratic nomination for state auditor. In the primary, she faces retired Army colonel Fred Aikens.

Wood said she would improve the auditor's relationship with the legislature, providing more training for newly elected lawmakers and more formal presentations of audit findings.

All three candidates for auditor accepted public campaign financing under a new program for down-ballot Council of State races this year. 

She was endorsed by former auditor Ralph Campbell, the state chapter of the AFL-CIO and the N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers.

She defeated Aikens, 64 to 36 percent, in the May primary and now faces Merritt.

In late May, she announced she had raised about $250 less than the $29,975 required to qualify for public financing. Merritt qualified.

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith.

Occupation

Former director of training
N.C. Auditor





Community Involvement:
Not specified.

Contact Info



Education



Military

Not specified.

Links










N&O Profile: http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1038781.html









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