Beth Wood, who resigned after hit-and-run, hired for new role by Auditor Boliek
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- Beth Wood returned to the Office of the State Auditor as an independent contractor.
- She was hired to conduct an investigative review, but the subject is redacted.
- Her contract pays $125 per hour, not to exceed $25,000 in total.
Beth Wood, who served as North Carolina’s state auditor for nearly 15 years, resigned her post over two years ago after pleading guilty to multiple car-related misdemeanors.
Now, she’s back at the agency she once led, working as an independent contractor under her successor, Auditor Dave Boliek.
Boliek, a Republican whom Wood endorsed in 2024 despite being a Democrat herself, announced her new role at a Council of State meeting earlier this month, bringing her along for a surprise visit. While he lauded her service and even presented her with a newly created award, he did not share details on what her new responsibilities would be.
The News & Observer has since obtained a copy of Wood’s employment contract through a public records request, which shows that she was hired to perform an “investigative review” throughout the summer. Details on the subject of her investigation, however, were redacted.
“Contractor will perform a review of REDACTED,” the contract, signed by Wood on May 25, states. “Specifically, contractor will investigate allegations received by OSA regarding the REDACTED financial practices and potential fraud by gathering and reviewing relevant documents, interviewing subjects and witnesses, analyzing collected information and data, preparing workpapers, interview reports, and issue sheets and such other tasks as required by the Office of the State Auditor.”
Wood did not respond to a request for comment seeking further details on her new role.
Her contract states that she will be paid a rate of $125 per hour, with her total pay not to exceed $25,000. Her work is to be completed by Aug 17.
Wood’s return to the agency comes after a series of scandals prompted her resignation as auditor in late 2023.
In December 2022, Wood was charged with a hit-and-run after crashing into a parked car while leaving a holiday party. She eventually pleaded guilty to that charge, acknowledging she drank alcohol that night but saying she was not impaired.
Wood faced a separate indictment over allegations that she misused her state vehicle by using it for personal purposes, including hair appointments and shopping. She pleaded guilty in this case as well, and was sentenced to 12 months of unsupervised probation.
When Wood stepped down in late 2023, then-Gov. Roy Cooper appointed Wake County Commissioner Jessica Holmes to fill out the remainder of the term.
Holmes ran as the Democratic nominee for auditor in 2024, but Wood endorsed Boliek instead, saying she believed Holmes was “not qualified.”
Since taking office, Boliek has expanded his agency’s role with help from the Republican-led legislature, which has steadily delegated new powers to him — most notably regarding elections.
When Boliek arrived at this month’s Council of State meeting with Wood, he announced she would receive the Cardinal Award, a new distinction he created “to honor individuals who care for their home and community resources, much like the state bird vigilantly guards its nest.”
Lastly, he announced the creation of a new internship at the agency named in Wood’s honor.
“I’m very thankful to her and grateful for her experience and lending that experience continually to the people of North Carolina,” he said.
