Latest news with #Boliek
Axios
5 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
How North Carolina's new top watchdog is amassing power
Just a few weeks after North Carolina voters elected the first Republican to serve as state auditor in 15 years, North Carolina's GOP-controlled General Assembly jumped at the opportunity, passing into law legislation that gave Dave Boliek the power to appoint the state's Board of Elections. Why it matters: The move was part of a broader effort to consolidate Republican power in the state, tipping control of the elections board and thus giving the GOP more authority over the state's electoral process. But lawmakers haven't stopped there. For months, they've been moving to make Boliek far more powerful than auditors past. Driving the news: In Boliek's first six months in office, legislative Republicans have introduced several bills that would expand his office's authority. They've proposed giving him more employees, a bigger budget and the authority to investigate some nonprofits and private businesses and make recommendations on ways to cut state spending. The big picture: Republicans' effort to grant Boliek more power comes at a moment when Republicans — both in Washington and in North Carolina — have zeroed in on making all levels of government more efficient at any cost. As the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency has sought to slash federal spending, GOP lawmakers in North Carolina have set their sights on doing the same at a state level, with the now-Republican state auditor as a key vehicle. North Carolina Republicans have also mirrored the national party's efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including by proposing legislation that would require that the auditor regularly audit agencies to ensure they're not using DEI policies. What they're saying:"We want our state agencies to work as hard as the citizens that fund them," Senate leader Phil Berger, who sponsored a bill that would give Boliek more power, said in a statement in March. "If they won't hold themselves accountable, then the General Assembly will." The latest: Measures broadening the auditor's scope made their way into the state Senate's budget proposal, which the chamber unveiled in April. Now, the legislature's two chambers are in the early stages of budget negotiations with a goal of passing a spending plan by the end of this month. Should the Senate's proposal, known as the Division of Accountability, Value and Efficiency (DAVE) Act, make it into the final budget package, Boliek is likely to amass even more power in the coming months. Under the proposal, the auditor would be empowered to make recommendations on state jobs that should be eliminated. The DAVE division would dissolve at the end of 2028. What they're saying: "This bill strikes me as not really getting at efficiency, but getting at really kind of a political approach to some of the work that we're here to do," Democratic state Sen. Lisa Grafstein said in committee in April, per the News & Observer. State of play: As it stands, several entities already exist to ensure North Carolina's government functions efficiently. One of them is the state auditor, who, as the state's top watchdog, has long been tasked with monitoring both the use of taxpayer dollars and the elimination of waste, fraud and abuse. The office audits more than $100 billion in assets and liabilities, per the auditor's website. Auditors past have earned the respect of Democrats and Republicans alike for tackling the job without favoring members of the same political party. The intrigue: As evidenced by legislation they've passed in recent months, North Carolina lawmakers believe that the auditor's office could be doing more, however. Boliek believes that, too. "I felt early on —and still feel — that this office has been underutilized in the sense of its duties and responsibilities as a watchdog and as a public-facing agency," Boliek told Axios last month. He's also argued that much of the legislation under consideration merely "formalizes the work that needs to be done" in his office, WRAL reported in April. Zoom in: Boliek, who has vowed to approach his job in a nonpartisan way as previous auditors have, is also on a mission to transform his office from within. "There a new energy in the office and a new vision for not only doing audits, but for being a true watchdog for the people of North Carolina, and to inform the public in an impactful way and get some real results on behalf of the people of North Carolina," Boliek said. The other side: At least one Republican has said that one of the proposals to grant the auditor more power should be "tightened up."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Carolina's high court says elections board shift can continue while governor appeals
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A divided North Carolina Supreme Court confirmed Friday that it was OK for a new law that shifted the power to appoint State Board of Elections members away from the Democratic governor to start being enforced earlier this month, even as the law's constitutionality is deliberated. The Republican majority on the court declined or dismissed requests that Gov. Josh Stein made three weeks ago to block for now the enforcement of the law approved last year by the GOP-controlled General Assembly shifting authority to Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek. In late April, some trial judges hearing Stein's lawsuit declared the law unconstitutional and said the law couldn't be carried out. But on April 30 — the day before Boliek was allowed under the law to make the board's five appointments — a panel on the intermediate-level state Court of Appeals ruled the law could still be carried out while broader legal questions surrounding the power shift are reviewed on appeal. Stein's attorneys later that day asked the Supreme Court to intervene and keep blocking the law, but the justices didn't weigh in publicly until now, effectively handing a legal victory to GOP legislative leaders who for years had wanted to wrest board control from Democratic governors. Boliek went ahead and made the board appointments May 1, which shifted the board's majority from a 3-2 Democratic majority to a similar GOP majority immediately. This upended a process going back over a century in which the governor picked the board members, three of whom are traditionally members of the governor's party. The new board was seated and proceeded to oust Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell. Now responding to Stein's legal motions, the prevailing unsigned order issued Friday and backed by the court's five registered Republicans said there were 'multiple grounds' upon which the Court of Appeals panel 'could have made a reasoned decision' to suspend the trial judges' directive to block the law. In particular, the order read, the trial judges 'unambiguously misapplied" rulings from the Supreme Court in recent years that had taken no position on whether moving powers from the governor to another executive branch official — like the elected state auditor — was constitutional. Instead, the order read, the trial judges used those rulings to declare the transfer was in fact unconstitutional. 'The Court of Appeals' ruling was not manifestly unsupported by reason or so arbitrary that it could not have been the result of a reasoned decision,' the order said. Associate Justice Richard Dietz, a Republican who wrote his own opinion, acknowledged that it was too late for the Supreme Court to get involved at this juncture, pointing out that the auditor has made appointments and new board staff is being hired. "The status quo has changed,' Dietz wrote. "It would create quite a mess to try to unring that bell through our own extraordinary writ.' Stein can still continue to appeal the broader legal issues surrounding the case by going through the regular appeals process, which likely will take at least several months. Meanwhile, the new board will make its mark, carrying out campaign finance laws, setting voting administration rules and preparing for the 2026 midterm elections. Associate Justice Anita Earls, one of the two registered Democrats on the court, blasted the GOP majority for weeks of inaction and accusing it of seemingly already siding with legislature on the broad constitutional issues over the appointments. The other Democrat, Associate Justice Allison Riggs, pointed out in her own opinion that the Court of Appeals panel provided no reasoning in its April 30 order. Instead, the Supreme Court majority 'is rewriting precedent and creating an explanation for an unexplained Court of Appeals order in an effort to upend 125-years status quo for the North Carolina State Board of Elections while this case winds its way through the courts,' she wrote Friday's denials also mean that a related provision directing Boliek to choose the chairs of the 100 county election boards starting in late June also can be carried out.
Winnipeg Free Press
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
North Carolina's high court says elections board shift can continue while governor appeals
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A divided North Carolina Supreme Court confirmed Friday that it was OK for a new law that shifted the power to appoint State Board of Elections members away from the Democratic governor to have taken effect earlier this month, even as the law's constitutionality is deliberated. The Republican majority on the court declined or dismissed requests that Gov. Josh Stein made three weeks ago to block for now the enforcement of the law approved last year by the Republican-controlled General Assembly shifting authority to GOP State Auditor Dave Boliek. In late April, some trial judges hearing Stein's lawsuit declared the law unconstitutional and said the law couldn't be carried out. But on April 30 — the day before Boliek was allowed under the law to make the board's five appointments — a panel on the intermediate-level state Court of Appeals ruled the law could still be carried out while broader legal questions surrounding the power shift are reviewed on appeal. Stein's attorneys later that day asked the Supreme Court to intervene and keep blocking the law, but the justices didn't weigh in publicly until now, effectively handing a legal victory to GOP legislative leaders who for years had wanted to wrest board control from Democratic governors. Boliek went ahead and made the board appointments May 1, which shifted the board's majority from a 3-2 Democratic majority to a similar GOP majority overnight. This upended a process going back over a century in which the governor picked the five board members, three of whom are traditionally members of the governor's party. The new board was seated and proceeded to oust Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell. The prevailing unsigned order issued Friday and backed by the court's five registered Republicans said there were 'multiple grounds' upon which the Court of Appeals panel 'could have made a reasoned decision' to suspend the trial judges' directive to block the law. In particular, the order read, the trial judges 'unambiguously misapplied' rulings from the Supreme Court in recent years that had taken no position on whether moving powers from the governor to another executive branch official — like the elected state auditor — was constitutional. Instead, the order read, the trial judges used those rulings to declare the transfer was in fact unconstitutional. 'The Court of Appeals' ruling was not manifestly unsupported by reason or so arbitrary that it could not have been the result of a reasoned decision,' the order said. Associate Justice Richard Dietz, a Republican who wrote his own opinion, acknowledged that it was too late for the Supreme Court to get involved at this juncture, pointing out that the auditor has made appointments and new board staff is being hired. 'The status quo has changed,' Dietz wrote. 'It would create quite a mess to try to unring that bell through our own extraordinary writ.' Stein can still continue to appeal the broader legal issues surrounding the case by going through the regular appeals process, which likely will take at least several months. Meanwhile, the new board will make its mark, carrying out campaign finance laws, setting voting administration rules and preparing for the 2026 midterm elections. Associate Justice Anita Earls, one of the two registered Democrats on the court, blasted the GOP majority for explaining its weeks of inaction and seeming already siding with legislature on the broad constitutional issues over the appointments. The other Democrat, Associate Justice Allison Riggs, pointed out in her own opinion that the Court of Appeals panel provided no reasoning in its April 30 order. Instead, the Supreme Court majority 'is rewriting precedent and creating an explanation for an unexplained Court of Appeals order in an effort to upend 125-years status quo for the North Carolina State Board of Elections while this case winds its way through the courts,' she wrote Friday's denials also mean that a related provision directing Boliek to choose the chairs of the county election boards starting in late June also can be carried out.
Axios
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
State auditor investigates reported police settlement
Republican state auditor Dave Boliek is investigating the City of Charlotte for "the $100,000 to $300,000 in public dollars [that] may have been given" to police chief Johnny Jennings to avoid a potential lawsuit. Why it matters: The city has not confirmed to the public how much money was paid or even whether a payment exists, as Boliek underscored in a letter sent Tuesday to Charlotte City Council. "Even if the payment was worth one penny, it should be disclosed to the public in a timely and transparent matter," Boliek wrote. "There is no tax dollar free from public scrutiny." Catch up quick: According to multiple media reports, the council voted behind closed doors on May 5 to pay Jennings $300,000 so he would not take legal action against the city for comments former council member Tariq Bokhari made. In texts published by WFAE, Bokhari told Jennings he would call on the chief's resignation and work to "cripple" his legacy if he did not agree to let officers wear outer carrier vests. The city has not confirmed the settlement. Instead, officials — including interim City Attorney Anthony Fox and City Council member Malcolm Graham — have discussed investigating leaks of information to the media. Meanwhile, the Fraternal Order of Police is taking a no-confidence vote against Jennings, and fractures within council are being revealed. What he's saying: " It is my understanding there is a possibility that as much as $100,000 to $300,000 in public dollars may have been given to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings for a legal settlement that may have been entered into by the City Council," Boliek wrote in his letter. Boliek continued, "This is only what has been gathered by the Auditor's Office from news reports, social media, and conversation. The truth of the matter remains unclear." The reported settlement may be higher than Jennings' yearly salary of just over $280,000. Boliek remarked that the mayor's office could quickly release information that answers some of the most pressing questions — "which I strongly encourage." Per state law, the city can vote on settlements behind closed doors, but it must publicly share the terms "as soon as possible" after finalizing the deal, as the Charlotte Observer reported.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State Auditor Dave Boliek visits Greenville
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek visited eastern North Carolina on Tuesday. His goal for his visit was to learn more about Greenville and the east. 'Where roadblocks exist on economic development and prosperity in eastern North Carolina, so that we can put into context how we audit things and how we look at the use of taxpayer money when we're determining what the best return on investment is. And second is to get that perspective from people that live in Greenville as to what needs—what—where does tax dollars—where do tax dollars need to be spent here to get the greatest return on investment,' said Dave Boliek, North Carolina State Auditor. He tells WNCT that since being elected, he's been working on redefining the State Auditor's Office. 'The Dave Act passed the North Carolina Senate. We're working with the North Carolina House on their budget funding. And we've talked to House leaders, in fact, on the way up here, about what we've asked for in terms of expanding the capabilities of the State Auditor's Office,' Boliek said. The State Auditor is now able to appoint new members to the State Board of Elections, a duty that used to be held by the sitting governor. 'We've already accomplished the first round of that, which is to appoint the board. The second part of our role is to appoint county board chairs, which we will handle over the next 30 to 45 days,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
