Les Merritt

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on June 7, 2007 - 1:17pm.
Tags:

Office District Status
Former State Auditor Statewide Former
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Republican 2004 2008
Level of Government  
Council of State  
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
November 19, 1951 , NC Zebulon, NC

Synopsis

Les Merritt is a former Republican state auditor. After graduating from N.C. State University with degrees in accounting and economics, he became a certified public accountant and a certified financial planner, serving as president of accounting firm Merritt, Petway, Mills and Hockaday. He served as a Wake County commissioner from 1994 to 1998. After losing a 2000 campaign for state auditor, he won a rematch in 2004. He lost to Democrat Beth Wood in 2008.

Trivia

He was the first CPA to be elected state auditor. 

Endorsements

Biography

Marital Status
Married
Spouse
Cheryl
Children
Daughter, Brooke; and son, Dale

Les Merritt is a former Republican state auditor and a former Wake County commissioner.

Early Life and Education

Leslie Merritt grew up on a tobacco and soybean farm in rural Sampson County. He graduated from Union High School in 1970.

He then earned degrees in economics and accounting at N.C. State University.

Professional Career

After college, Merritt became a certified public accountant and a certified financial planner for over 20 years.

He served as president of Merritt, Petway, Mills and Hockaday, an accounting and auditing firm with offices in Zebulon and Raleigh.

Political Career

In 1994, Merritt was elected to the Wake County board of commissioners.

In office, he cut the property tax rate by 17 percent and helped lead a push to privatize the county hospital, now known as WakeMed.

He lost a 1998 campaign for re-election to the county board. 

In 2000, he won a three-way primary to become the Republican nominee for state auditor, but he won a close election to incumbent Ralph Campbell, Jr.

He won a 2004 rematch, becoming the first Republican to beat an incumbent Democrat for a statewide executive office.

In office, Merritt was criticized for starting a side business as a private financial services consultant. Within two months, he shut down the business.

On June 7, 2007, Merritt announced he would run for re-election, saying he would focus on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state government.

He lost to Democrat Beth Wood in the November election.

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith. 

Occupation

Accountant





Community Involvement:
Not specified.

Contact Info

Email: campaign@lesmerritt.com

Les Merritt Campaign
P.O. Box 37548, Raleigh, N.C. 27627
919-851-4277		 Office of the State Auditor
20601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-0601
919-807-7500

Education

bachelor of science
N.C. State University



Military

Not specified.

Links

http://www.ncauditor.net


http://lesmerritt.com





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