Political “wreck” back on the road again
Beth Wood (D) is back with a contract for short-term temporary work at the Office of State Auditor, her old stomping grounds.
We’ve all seen and heard things about the controversy that led to her departure from The Council of State and state government (see photo above). Somehow, the state car she was driving came to a rest atop a car parked in the vicinity of Rufus Edmisten’s Christmas party. Thanks to video from passers-by, we saw a gaggle of ladies hustle her away from the car and into a nearby building. Without that video, we might not have ever heard about this.
The event sure looked like an example of driving under the influence. But Wood got disappeared from the vicinity rapidly and we never heard whether officers actually got to test her for DUI or DWI. If you or I had been in her place, and left the scene of an accident, we would have been hunted down and had the cuffs slapped on us.
But apparently Wood is back in the auditing saddle, thanks to current state auditor Dave Boliek:
Former North Carolina state auditor Beth Wood is back working with the Office of the State Auditor, this time as an independent contractor under Auditor Dave Boliek on a short-term investigative review whose subject is literally blacked out in public records.
What The Contract Says
A contract obtained by The News & Observer shows Wood signed the agreement on May 25, 2026. The deal pays her $125 per hour, with total compensation capped at $25,000, and sets an end date of Aug. 17, 2026.
Wood is explicitly listed as an independent contractor, not a staff employee, and the document limits her compensation to that hourly rate and overall cap. The scope section is blunt, aside from the thick black marker. “Contractor will perform a review of REDACTED,” the public copy states, before outlining standard investigative work such as gathering and reviewing documents, interviewing subjects and witnesses, and preparing workpapers and issue sheets. The portion identifying exactly what, or whom, she is reviewing is redacted in the version released under public records law.
Past Scandal And The Comeback
Wood resigned as state auditor in late 2023 following a string of car related incidents that started with a December 2022 crash and a subsequent hit and run citation. She later pleaded guilty to the hit and run and to misdemeanor charges tied to using a state vehicle for personal errands. A Wake County judge ordered 12 months of unsupervised probation as part of a plea agreement, according to The Associated Press.
Boliek Praises Wood And Launches An Internship
Despite that exit, Boliek has publicly embraced his predecessor. He brought Wood to a Council of State meeting in early June, presented her with a newly created Cardinal Award and used the moment to unveil a paid internship program named in her honor, according to coverage from WBT Charlotte’s News Talk.
The auditor’s official website now promotes the “Auditor Beth Wood – Financial Audit Internship Program,” listing fall 2026 dates, application instructions and a July 31 interview deadline for would be interns. The way the office lays it out, the program is intended as a recruiting pipeline into state auditing work. NC Office of the State Auditor
Why It Matters
Wood’s quiet reappearance inside the office she once led highlights Boliek’s willingness to lean on veteran auditors, even across party lines, as he reshapes the agency. During the 2024 campaign, Wood, a Democrat, publicly endorsed Republican Boliek over the Democratic incumbent, an endorsement detailed by WRAL. [….]
One of the OSA’s chief duties is to ensure state resources are being used lawfully and properly. Wood appeared pretty evasive in the effort to investigate, clear up, and resolve the 2022 wreck involving her state vehicle. You have to ask: Given her history, is Beth Wood really the best person to have out there investigating questions on whether state government resources have been used lawfully and properly?
Is there no one already on staff who can handle the investigation / audit in question?
