Unanswered crash questions threaten legacy of State Auditor Beth Wood, champion of government transparency
To those who've known State Auditor Beth Wood, her hit-and-run charge -- and slow response -- stands in contrast to the reputation she's built as one of North Carolina's most respected politicians.
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State Auditor Beth Wood has worked to build a reputation as a no-nonsense, independent investigator, leading an office that seeks to protect taxpayers by unearthing wrongdoing in all corners of North Carolina government.
And in her four terms in office, the Democrat has largely succeeded, according to associates, observers and state officials interviewed by WRAL. Over the years, she has earned the respect of some of the state’s most powerful officials — Democrats and Republicans alike — who describe her as a highly determined, ethical and dependable champion of clean government.
“She's the best state auditor we've ever had,” said Cherie Berry, a Republican former state labor commissioner. Berry said she voted for Wood every time she ran.
But that reputation is in jeopardy as a scandal unfolds surrounding a hit-and-run charge against her.
As state auditor, Wood expects transparency from the groups she investigates — and seeks accountability for those who abuse their power. Now that Wood is under the microscope, she’s dodging questions about the crash and facing criticism for not addressing it sooner.
Through a spokeswoman, Wood declined to be interviewed for this article.
“You can’t hide this kind of thing,” said Gary Pearce, who was an adviser to former Democratic Gov. Jim Hunt. “The more you put it off, the worse it gets.”
Wood was charged Dec. 12 with one count of misdemeanor hit-and-run resulting in property damage in the Dec. 8 crash. She was also cited for an unsafe movement infraction. Wood said she had spent a couple hours at a holiday gathering. Shortly after 9 p.m., she got into her state-issued Toyota and drove it into a car parked on Salisbury Street, rolling partially onto its hood, according to a police report. Police reported arriving at the crash scene to find the engine running and no driver. Wood says it was an accident.
Over 13 years in office, Wood has become known for many things. The New Bern native worked in the auditor’s office before running for her boss’s job in 2008. She defeated him to become the first woman to ever hold the position. She has identified millions of dollars in government waste. She has tangled with high-profile officials from both political parties. And she’s one of only a handful of Democrats to consistently win statewide races.
Her towering stature, cropped blonde hair and signature red lipstick are recognizable to many who regularly roam the state government complex in Raleigh. But now, despite her professional record, she may be known simply for being the government official who took off after wrecking a car from the state motor pool.
“As public servants, we must uphold a higher standard,” Republican State Treasurer Dale Folwell said in a statement to WRAL. “On a personal level, I was saddened to learn of this news. Auditor Wood has a long career as a dedicated and effective public servant.”
Not afraid of controversy
The state auditor is important but often unnoticed. The position is one of only 10 within North Carolina’s Council of State, a collection of people elected to lead various state agencies.
The auditor’s job is to make sure government programs are using their resources as efficiently as possible while complying with state and federal regulations. The auditor’s office reviews the financial operations of more than 30 state agencies, its municipalities, as well as its public universities and community colleges.
State law gives the auditor broad powers to examine the records of those places, and gives her the power to summon people to answer questions under oath.
Wood is one of only four Democrats on the council, along with Gov. Roy Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. Political insiders attribute Wood’s success to her tenacity and integrity.
“She was one of the most professional members of the Council of State,” Berry, the former labor commissioner, said. “And it didn't matter if she was auditing a Democrat department head or Republican. Everybody was treated the same.”
Berry recalled corresponding with Wood about federal grants that the labor department had received. Wood’s team wanted to make sure the grant conditions were followed, Berry said.
“She always had one or two suggestions, which were process suggestions,” Berry said. “And we always followed them because we trusted her.”
The auditing process is lengthy and North Carolina is home to its share of political newsmakers. So Wood's audits are regularly overshadowed. Still, they often make waves in state government.
Many of Wood’s audits fly under the radar. But she hasn’t been afraid of tackling causes or investigations that could hurt her politically — including several against people in her own party.
- Last year, Wood suggested the Cooper administration replaced members of a government commission to advance a sale of the Bald Head Island ferry system to the state. Wood and Folwell, the treasurer, had blocked a deal citing questions with appraisals on the ferry system. The wealthy family that once owned most of Bald Head Island later sold the ferry system to a private equity firm.
- In 2020, Wood’s office found that Rocky Mount officials prevented city workers from trying to collect $47,704 in utility bills owed by a city council member — prompting state lawmakers to pass a bill to crack down on similar situations. The councilman denied the report, and the NAACP of North Carolina claimed the probe was racist. The Rocky Mount branch of the NAACP is now calling on Wood to resign in the wake of her recent traffic charges, the Rocky Mount Telegram reported.
- In 2017, Wood’s office claimed that milk inspectors for the Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services were too lenient on dairies where repeated violations had been found. That led to a public spat with Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, a Republican who disputed the audit’s findings and claimed Wood’s “personal opinion” was giving North Carolinians a skewed perspective of the milk industry.
- And in 2014, Wood fired a health care policy expert who had advised the Obama administration when it constructed the Affordable Care Act. Wood’s office hired the advisor to review a healthcare proposal in North Carolina but terminated his contract after learning that he made comments about “the stupidity of the American voter” while speaking at a conference.
An ‘honorable person’
Accounts of Wood’s Dec. 8 crash and its aftermath have been detailed in Wood’s eventual statement, as well as images, police reports, state insurance records and recordings of calls to emergency dispatchers.
The building in Beam's video is occupied in part by the Edmisten & Webb Law Firm. Rufus Edmisten, a partner in the firm and a former state attorney general and secretary of state, was hosting a holiday party in the building that night, according to a copy of an invitation obtained by WRAL. Wood was there, sources told WRAL. Edmisten hasn’t responded to WRAL’s requests for comment.
“It seems like there’s so many other people involved,” Beam said, describing others in the vicinity as “leaving the scene or even [egging] on or enabling someone to leave the scene.”
Ida Terbet is a local real estate agent who says she’s known Wood for years. She can’t imagine Wood leaving the scene of a crash to avoid accountability. Wood was probably stunned and just following orders from other people when she left the scene, Terbet said.
“Beth is probably the most honest, honorable person I know,” Terbet said.
She remembers encountering Wood years ago at a fundraiser.
“She and her husband Sam got up and started dancing, and I said ‘Holy cow, who is she?’ Because she looks like a professional dancer,” Terbet recalled.
As Terbet found out, Wood does indeed love ballroom dancing and shag dancing. Terbet described Wood as both stately and fun, someone who loves to socialize.
“We went to Bald Head [Island] together, and she always has plenty of food for everybody. She just makes everyone feel comfortable,” Terbet said. “Her husband is a phenomenal golfer and my husband enjoys being with him. They're just a great couple.”
The North Carolina Republican Party has been calling for Wood’s resignation. Wood has vowed to stay in the role.
Terbet, who said she’s a Republican, believes Wood should stay in office because she’s done a “phenomenal job” as auditor. While Wood made a mistake — something Wood acknowledged in an apology statement — her actions shouldn’t be disqualifying, Terbet said.
“If it was Joe Blow, you would not be getting this publicity,” she said. “And I personally think people have a very short term memory. I think this will come and go and be over with.”
‘Troubling situation’
Despite the state GOP’s calls for her resignation, many of the state’s top Republicans are taking a wait-and-see approach, mixing complimentary statements with speculation about her future.
“Auditor Wood has, for a number of years, done what I think both Republicans and Democrats would say ... has been an exceptional job as state auditor,” Senate Leader Phil Berger told statehouse reporters last week. “The events of December really call into question a lot of things. Whether that rises to the level of ‘She ought to resign’ is something I think folks reasonably want to inquire about.”
Democrats’ statements have been less effusive.
"Obviously, this is a troubling situation," Gov. Roy Cooper said at an event in Moore County on Tuesday. "I’m glad that she has addressed this matter publicly,” he said, referring to Wood’s eventual statement, which was released the day prior.
The state Democratic Party said in a statement: “This was an unfortunate situation. It is also a legal matter that we believe should play out.”
Some aren’t as sure as Terbet that Wood’s political career will survive the incident.
On one hand, other politicians have been able to remain in office after facing much worse scandals. On the other, Wood took an oath to uphold the law and her sense of judgment — which government officials are expected to rely on — is now in question.
“It's going to be extremely difficult for her moving forward to be effective in her job because she's broken the public's trust,” said Brad Crone, president of Campaign Connections, a Raleigh political consulting firm. Crone has advised Democrats and Republicans for more than 30 years.
State employees who are assigned state-owned vehicles are expected to abide by rules and regulations outlined by the state’s Motor Fleet Management division, which manages state-owned vehicles.
Those policies require state employees to report accidents to the state, which Wood did shortly after the incident. They allow state-owned cars to be used to obtain personal necessities, such as meals, “but not for entertainment or any personal purposes.” In a report to insurers, Wood said she was using the vehicle for business reasons.
The policies also prohibit the use of a state-owned vehicle if the driver has been drinking. The party Wood is said to have attended the night of the crash featured “food, drink and festivities,” according to the invitation. A lawyer for Wood hasn’t responded to questions about whether Wood was drinking at the party.
The motor fleet agency temporarily took away the car assigned to Wood as a police investigation continues. The car was still in the shop as of Tuesday. Towing and repairs totaled about $7,700, the state said. And for now, Wood is being discouraged from driving any other state-owned vehicle.
‘If you mess up, fess up’
Pearce, the former Hunt adviser, said Wood could have softened any negative reputational hit by speaking about the incident more openly, and sooner.
He recalled the late former U.S. Rep. Ike Andrews, who got in trouble 40 years ago. Andrews, a Democrat first elected to congress in 1973, was charged with drinking and driving in 1982. He pleaded guilty or no contest to the charges he faced, according to WRAL’s archived footage.
Then he held a press conference “and told the whole story in excruciating detail,” Pearce recalled.
Indeed Andrews, standing over a bouquet of microphones, told reporters he stopped his car between Cary and Washington, D.C., to pour rum in his Coca-Cola.
"And I did drink it," Andrews said during the press conference. "That was wrong."
Andrews sought forgiveness through his “guilty plea to the people” campaign just a couple months before the 1982 elections. He went on to win.
The lesson, Pearce said: “If you mess up, fess up. Do it fast and do it in full. And people will forgive it.”
In her apology statement, Wood said she was taking responsibility for her actions.
"I was shaken by the incident and, when I was unable to move my vehicle, I left the scene," she said.
That statement describes her state of mind. It also outlines a sequence of events.
But it doesn't clear up why, exactly, she didn’t stay with the wrecked car. And as of late Saturday, she had yet to offer a full, public explanation.
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