One doesn't get to be a county manager and hold the job without having a measure of political savvy. Wake County Manager David Cooke understands the need to respond to public outrage, because he knows his elected county commissioners will hear about it from their constituents when something goes wrong. And that's exactly what's happened with the disclosure that a now-former county employee and his associates used government credit cards to pay for lots of travel.

Craig Wittig, former manager of the county recycling program, was assigned to establish an environmental education program. On his watch, some 50 trips, including journeys to Disney World and a whale-watching cruise off the Maine coast, were charged to the county. A GPS unit was bought, clothes, etc. Wittig was fired by Cooke, and his boss, solid waste director James Reynolds, now has resigned.

Wittig and co-workers had rung up $161,233 in travel costs and expenses on county credit cards in a little more than two years.

Cooke's initial response was appropriate. The manager didn't try to defend anything, said it should never have happened and that he would get to the bottom of it. He said he intended to review all credit cards issued to employees, which adds up to 535 of them.

This manager has credibility with commissioners and the public, and he has shown good judgment. But he's taking things one step further in seeking an independent audit. In so doing, Cooke demonstrates that he views the Wittig situation as one that not only must never happen again, but must be prevented with more institutional controls. He's right, and an audit should help.

There's another factor, too: department heads need to keep a close and inquisitive watch on expenses. And employees entrusted with credit cards must use them as if they had to pay the bills themselves.

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