Is Les Merritt Playing Politics With His Position?
Submitted by Jerry Meek on Fri, 08/31/2007 - 2:28pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2007
Contact: Kerra Bolton, (919) 821-2777, ext. 216
Republican State Auditor Les Merritt Shows No Shame in His Partisan Game
RALEIGH -- Republican State Auditor Les Merritt once again shows his partisan stripes in ousting a political challenger and then lying to cover it up.
Beth Wood, a 10-year veteran, gave last week her 30-day notice to finish pending projects and train her replacement.
But after a newspaper article appeared earlier this week about Wood’s intentions to run against her former boss, one of Mr. Merritt’s top aides told Wood not to return to work.
Wood, a Democrat, was also locked out of the building and denied access to her personal belongings.
"I’m frankly afraid that if things start to fall through the cracks, Les (Merritt) is going to use that against me in the campaign,” Wood told the Greensboro News & Record.
When confronted by the newspaper, Mr. Merritt’s spokesman said Wood had asked to use her comp time to finish out her tenure as the agency’s training director.
But why would an employee use comp time to finish up projects and train a replacement?
Wouldn’t an employer like Mr. Merritt allow an employee with good standing to at least gather her things and say good-bye to co-workers before denying her building access and shutting down her voicemail?
You don’t have to be a CPA to realize Mr. Merritt’s actions just don’t add up.
From delaying the passage of critical voter registration laws to offering coupons to receive a free consultation, Mr. Merritt has demonstrated a pattern of using his public office as a launching pad for his political and personal ambitions.
“Projects and training that are integral to keeping government accountable are now on hold because Mr. Merritt would rather seek revenge than do what’s right for the state,” said NCDP Chair Jerry Meek. “Mr. Merritt owes Ms. Wood and all North Carolinians an apology for his partisan, petty behavior.”
I figured something like this was coming
when I saw she planned to run.
Republican Leslie Merritt is acting in a mean-hearted, vindictive, unprofessional way.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
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Vote Democratic, the ass you save may be your own.
There were those who said if she announced earlier...
she would face retribution. I said "Nah, that would be incredibly stupid of Les."
well, I was wrong, and I was right. Retribution against an employee that decides to run against you. "Smells like Fear" Les.
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
Shameful, Mr. Merritt.
Just shameful. Betsy's right, and I'd add a big fat "childish", a loud "petty" and hearty SECOND! to "unprofessional" to everything she said.
"They took all the trees and put them in a tree museum Then they charged the people a dollar 'n a half just to see 'em. Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."
How about just plain stupid ....
It's always a bad idea to needlessly give motivation to your opposition. Jerk.
Person County Democrats
Environmental Defense Fund
Cell phones will be to the 21st century what tobacco was to the 20th.
Les! I told the media it was a State Security Secret about her.
How about just plain stupid ...
It's always a bad idea to needlessly give motivation to your opposition. Jerk.*persondem
Agree! But just last year Nifong fired another Democrat who chose to run against him and the Present DA of the Greensboro Area did the same thing against a 10 year employee. Both former employess lost in bitter campaigns. The good news is that Nifong is gone and the other Democrat lays low in political circles. No doubt Les thinks political terrorists are hidding in his offices.
Beth Wood to run against Ms. Leslie Merritt?
shoot, that lowers Les' chances just by virtue of name/implied sex of candidate.