Misuse of State Resources for Political Campaigns

General Statute §126-13, prohibits political activity by state employees while on duty or from using state resources.

February 5, 2008

WAKE COUNTY NC NEWS -- The Office of the State Auditor has released two investigative reports on the misuse of State resources for active participation in political campaigns. Misuse of State resources is defined in General Statute §126-13, which prohibits political activity by state employees while on duty or from using state resources.

The first investigation was requested by Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue's General Counsel which alleged the use of State Treasurer's resources as an active part of the State Treasurer's campaign for Governor.

The second investigation was a request by State Treasurer Richard Moore's Campaign Manager to investigate similar activity in the Lt. Governor's office.

Both investigative reports reveal evidence of active political campaigning using State resources. We have conveniently placed links to each report below for your review.

• Investigation into potential political operations within the Office of the State Treasurer, Richard Moore. Findings included that four State Treasurer employees worked both part-time as state employees and part-time as paid volunteers of the State Treasurer's campaign for governor. Each of these four employees is classified as exempt from the State Personnel Act, but they did allegedly use State resources to conduct campaign business.
• Investigation into potential political operations within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Beverly Perdue. Findings included incoming e-mails that appeared to be related to the Lieutenant Governor's current campaign for governor and several drafts of speeches, letters, and press releases related to a previous campaign.

The State Auditor Leslie Merritt said, "I recognize that these allegations may be a political football, but as the independent State Auditor I have a statutory obligation to review any allegation of misconduct without respect to its motivation."

Allegations centered on State employees performing campaign-related activities on State time and in some cases using State resources. State policy allows for public employees to make reasonable personal use of a provided State network or internet resources. However, both investigations found activity that rose above a reasonable personal use to a level of active participation in political campaigns.

"Both the Treasurer and the Lt. Governor reached out to the State Auditor's office because of our ability to professionally and independently investigate all allegations and issue reports that are fair to everyone involved," added the State Auditor. "But let's remember that when State resources and personnel are used for political campaigning, it's the taxpayers that get stuck with the bill."

Oh how true Mr Merritt, and both these officials, State Treasurer Richard Moore and Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue know better.