Les Merritt

Merritt: Ethics board has no teeth

bniolet — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:57:52 -0400

Former state Auditor Les Merritt said the N.C. State Ethics Commission has failed to keep government clean.

In an opinion piece published in the Fayetteville Observer, Merritt writes that the commission has been silent as multiple investigations focus on former Gov. Mike Easley.

However, in nearly three years of existence, the commission has done little to tackle real ethics issues in our state. Not a single resolution of note has come as a result of any Ethics Commission investigation, even though several dozen complaints have been submitted or referred. For example, the media have reported that former Gov. Mike Easley allegedly failed to disclose a seemingly inappropriate relationship on his Statement of Economic Interest, but this went undetected (or perhaps unchallenged) by the Ethics Commission.

Meanwhile, a Board of Elections investigation continues into alleged campaign finance violations by Easley, as well as a federal grand jury investigation of how his wife obtained her position (and subsequent 80 percent raise) at North Carolina State University.

None of these issues appears to have been surfaced or investigated by the Ethics Commission.

Worker says he was targeted for politics

bniolet — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:47:03 -0400

An assistant auditor has sued the state, claiming that his bosses are going after him because he is a Republican.

Darryl Black sued the Office of the State Auditor, saying that after Democratic Auditor Beth Wood was elected, supervisors in her office began pressuring him to take a voluntary layoff because he is a Republican.

A spokesman for Wood and the Auditor's Office said he could not comment on the lawsuit because it involved personnel issues.

Prior to 2007, Black says in the lawsuit, he received good or even outstanding performance reviews. In 2008, before the most recent election for auditor, Black wrote letters published in The News & Observer. He did not identify himself as a state employee and the issues he wrote about were not connected to his duties as an auditor.

Black previously had run for the legislature as a Republican and he believed his managers knew of his political leanings.

More after the jump.

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly identified the administrative employee who had previously been let go. The employee is a 23-year veteran of the office, not a 23-year-old. Dome regrets the error.

Wood testifies about Easley audit

bkrueger — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:23:36 -0400

State Auditor Beth Wood testified today before the federal grand jury investigating former Gov. Mike Easley.

Most of the questions revolved around an unreleased audit reviewing the $170,000 salary paid to Mary Easley at N.C. State University before she was fired in June, according to Dennis Patterson, a spokesman for Wood.

Wood, a Democrat, had acknowledged in a previous interview that she had told her staff that one reason for not releasing the salary audit was that state Sen. Tony Rand, a powerful Democrat from Fayetteville and a long-time Easley supporter, would poke holes in it.

Rand had represented Mary Easley when Wood's predecessor, Les Merritt, audited her European travels paid by tax dollars. Merritt found that some expenses were questionable.

Wood was worried whether the salary audit would stand up to close scrutiny, Patterson said.

"She told them Tony Rand is a good lawyer, and if he punched holes in the travel audit, he'd rip up this one," Patterson said.

More after the jump.

Audit settles ethics dispute

markjohnson — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:17:37 -0400

The state auditor and the State Ethics Commission have ended a battle stemming from an investigation into the handling of then-Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue's ethics files.

A state audit released today found that officials with the State Ethics Commission had not intentionally destroyed evidence in the matter, but did find that commission staff had not followed procedures in making the ethics statements available to the public, Dan Kane reports.

The case stems from a visit that Perdue's legal counsel, Will Polk, had made in October 2007, to review her ethics statements, which are an accounting of her financial interests. The statements are intended to help officials avoid conflicts of interest. Polk had been allowed to review the files behind closed doors. An aide, Amanda Thaxton, had noted in an electronic log that this was not the commission's policy; a staff email had told them not to let members of the public review ethics files without staff supervision.

Thaxton filed a complaint to the auditor's office, which then launched an investigation. She was later fired by the commission and has since filed a whistleblower's lawsuit that is pending in state court. The commission has denied that she was fired in retaliation. The audit did not address Thaxton's whistleblower claim. Copies of the log showed that her entry had been removed. But the auditor's report released today found that the change was made prior to the commission being notified of the auditor's investigation, so there was no evidence of tampering.

More after the jump.

Dome Memo: Home movies, late budgets

bniolet — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:51:07 -0400

OF COURSE THERE'S VIDEO: The least surprising thing that Andrew Young, former close aide to John Edwards, had to say in his book proposal: there's a sex tape. A year ago, that news might have been shocking. But a sex tape now fits comfortably along the downward trajectory Edwards' public image has been following since he begrudgingly acknowledged an extra-marital affair. Of course, we don't think Young visited the federal courthouse this week to talk about film.

BERGER UNLEASHED: Senate minority Leader Phil Berger ran wide open this week. He blasted North Carolina Democrats at home in the usual outlets, and then let 'em have it in the Wall Street Journal. We're not sure, but we think Berger wants people to know he's unhappy with the majority party.

THAT WAS CLOSE: The House and Senate agreed at the last minute to a bill to keep the state running while they wrangle over the budget. The House got its way and the temporary bill sets a two-week deadline for the chambers to agree. Gov. Beverly Perdue says to hurry up.

IN OTHER NEWS: House Republicans don't like the way Democrats name important bills. No charges will be filed in a case where a Blue Cross and Blue Shield lobbyist was accused of attempted bribery. Former auditor Les Merritt has launched a foundation to expose public corruption. The Republican Party is gearing up to go after freshman Democrat U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell in 2010. And the recession has prompted a drop in the prices of premium liquor, so at least there's some good news.

Merritt starts foundation to fight corruption

bniolet — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:00:55 -0400

Former state auditor Les Merritt has formed a nonprofit foundation dedicated to rooting out public corruption.

The Foundation for Ethics in Public Service opened its doors in May and exists to help expose corruption across the nation, Merritt said. Unlike his time as auditor, Merritt won't have the advantage of being able to order agencies to cooperate. He said the foundation will rely on the same tactics and methods used by investigative journalists — good tips and public records.

"We need more watchdogs you just can't get too many out there," Merritt said.

Merritt, a Republican, lost his seat last year to Democrat Beth Wood.

The foundation will rely on anonymous tips for many of its investigations. Others may come from journalists, who because of staff cuts, don't have the time to pursue stories in detail. The foundation can check things out and turn the information over to reporters, he said.

Frank Perry, a retired FBI agent and former investigations chief under Merritt will direct investigations for the foundation.

Merritt said the foundation has a funding pledge from the John William Pope Foundation, which is directed by conservative patron and former lawmaker Art Pope.

Merritt says that his organization will be nonpartisan. Merritt said he does not plan to run for auditor again.

"I honestly believe this can be more worthwhile," he said. "I don't ever plan on running agin. It's certainly not helping me get set up that way. This can be a whole lot more fun."

Quick Hits

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:29:03 -0400

* Washington columnist Stuart Rothenberg thinks U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell "could see a steep drop-off" in 2010 from certain "demographic groups."

* U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx wins "Defender of Liberty" award for 100 percent voting-record rating in 2008 from American Conservative Union.

* Hundreds of protesters gather at the legislative building to argue against higher taxes; speakers include Mary Katharine Ham and Joe the Plumber.

* Former Republican auditor Les Merritt and former Raleigh City Councilman John Odom endorse Chad Adams for N.C. Republican Party chairman.

Quick Hits

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:03:38 -0500

* U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick delivered the opening prayer at a closed-door meeting between President Obama and House Republicans on the stimulus package.

* Conservative commentator John Hood gives suggestions for the legislature to really cut spending and make government more transparent.

* Liberal commentator Adam Linker wonders whatever happened to the second of two promised audits of the State Health Plan from former Auditor Les Merritt.

* Greensboro News-Record reporter Mark Binker rounds up what to expect from the upcoming session, notably the budget, the budget and the budget.

N.C. GOP head won't seek another term

bniolet — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:27:10 -0500

State Republican Chair Linda Daves of Charlotte says she will not seek another term next year.

"I think it is good and health for an organization to have fresh, new leadership periodically," Daves said in a statement. "At the conclusion of my term in June, I will step aside and allow someone else the honor and responsibility of guiding the party into the future."

Among those who have expressed interest in running for party chair is state Sen. Fred Smith of Clayton, who last year unsucessfully sought the gubernatorial nomination.

Daves was chair during a difficult election cycle for Republicans. They lost the Senate seat held by Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a congressional seat held by Robin Hayes, and the auditor’s office held by Les Merritt. Barack Obama also became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since 1976.

The convention will be held June 12 to 14 in Raleigh.

Final meeting, final needling

markjohnson — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:59:08 -0500

Several of the state's top elected officials took advantage of their last Council of State meeting to poke lighthearted fun at each other.

The Council of State is a panel of the governor and nine other elected executive branch officials. Four of the current members -- Gov. Mike Easley, State Treasurer Richard Moore, State Auditor Les Merritt and Insuance Commissioner Jim Long -- will not be returning. Here are the greatest hits from Monday's meeting:

Moore, who oversees the state pension plan, to the departing Easley: "Governor, when your retirement check is late, don't call me."

Long, who many times complained about the shortage of parking for state employees: "I'd like to announce my new career. I'm a parking lot attendant for the state of North Carolina."

Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry, whose photo appears on the certificate of operation for elevators in the state: "We're not going to have Mike Easley to kick around anymore."

Easley, to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue: "The good news for Governor Perdue is every day when you get on the elevator in the mansion, you get to see Cherie Berry's photo."