Wood: Attacks unfounded

State Auditor Beth Wood's job is to keep a close eye on how other state officials run their offices.

Now, Wood said, someone is gunning for her.

Wood was responding to questions about an anonymous tip Dome received, saying that Wood had two executive assistants babysit a child at the office during the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Wood acknowledged she had the daughter of a friend in the office, but no one was asked to baby sit. She said the tip was another in a series of unfounded attacks against her.

"Whoever gave you that tip is just looking for another way to try to discredit this office," Wood told Dome. "Every time someone digs into something that affects me, there's nothing there. People think they can get my name in the paper and create the illusion that I'm doing something wrong."

Between Dec. 14 and Christmas, Wood said she worked a light schedule, about 24 hours a week. During those weeks, Wood said, the 8-year-old daughter of a friend was staying with her. When Wood went to the office, the child went with her.

The girl had books and a portable game system to keep her busy.

"If I had to talk to somebody while I was here, she sat while I went and took care of it," Wood said. "Did I stop the child from interacting with my executive assistant? No I did not. Was she baby-sitting her? No. Absolutely not."

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Wood said the latest tip follows a series of accusations meant to discredit her.

In the summer, Wood was criticized for not releasing an audit started by her predecessor over former first lady Mary Easley's high-paying job at N.C. State University. Wood said the audit was incomplete. She eventually released it.

In September, a Republican employee accused Wood of forcing him out of his job because of his politics. Wood denies the claim.

"We are not going to be distracted by this kind of thing," Wood said. "I expect these attacks."