Latest news with #Whichard
Axios
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Axios
Local Limelight with Jordan Whichard of NP Strategy
For the past four years, Jordan Whichard served as the chief deputy secretary of the N.C. Department of Commerce, helping the state land job expansions and run key job training programs and unemployment insurance. It was the culmination of a career in politics that has spanned roles from the White House to the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh. State of play: Now, the veteran of North Carolina politics is taking that experience to help lead the Raleigh office of NP Strategy, a government relations and strategic communications firm. We talked with Whichard for our latest Local Limelight conversation. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity. 🗳️ How did you end up in the Triangle? I grew up in Greenville and went to UNC-Chapel Hill, so that originally brought me to the Triangle. Then I moved to D.C. to work in politics from 2008 until 2015. But when my wife, Jessica, and I thought about where we wanted to be, Raleigh and the Triangle always stood out. On my way down here, I worked on then-Attorney General Roy Cooper's announcement to run for governor, and about a year later I joined his administration. 🍽️ Favorite place to eat in the Triangle? There is no question that it is Stanbury. 📚 Last great book you read? " The Devil at His Elbow," a chronicling of the Murdaugh family murders by the Raleigh-based journalist Valerie Bauerlein. ⚾️ What do you think the Triangle is missing? A Major League Baseball franchise. I think one more franchise to add to the Carolina Hurricanes and the NC Courage, which is a top-tier franchise that we go to a lot, would really put the Triangle in another tier of conversation. I think an MLB team would help bring us more headquarters operations to the Triangle, which is something that's always been sort of a knock on the region. We don't have a ton of headquarters. 🐟 Favorite long weekend spot? A family place along the Pamlico River in Beaufort County.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘I told everyone no:' Former purchasing manager says South Fulton mayor has a problem with spending
A former City of South Fulton purchasing manager is breaking his silence about what he describes as financial abuse within the city. This week the council filed an ethics complaint against the mayor over his spending. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'It's a misappropriation of funds,' former City of South Fulton purchasing manager Malcolm Whichard says was widely known. 'My first week there, he knocked on the door, introduced himself and asked me for his P-card back and I refused,' Whichard said. Whichard says in his two short months employed at the city, he uncovered extreme financial abuse. 'I was the guy at the city that told everyone no,' said Whichard. He went on to tell Channel 2′s Ashli Lincoln, 'Two weeks in, the mayor came to my office asking how he can buy $15,000 worth of IKEA furniture,' he said. South Fulton Mayor Kahlid Kamau, now known as Mayor Kobi is currently under investigation for purchase card and purchasing order expenses dating back to 2022. RELATED STORIES: South Fulton mayor walks out of city council meeting early after expenses questioned $1,800 table, flight upgrades: Residents want South Fulton mayor investigated for his purchases Trip to Ghana, drone, flights: South Fulton mayor made $26,000 in unauthorized purchases Lincoln reviewed multiple city policies and ordinances. A January audit trail shows a $19,000 purchase order for an unapproved media lab. City ordinance states any purchase over $2,500 must be approved by the city manager. 'There's just a lack of oversight,' Whichard said. A city official told Lincoln they are looking into why some purchases were not approved by either the current interim purchase manager or the city manager. Documents also show multiple airline purchases where the mayor bought unapproved flights for himself and two employees. Banks statements show an employee went with him to Paris in May and another employee was taken on a trip to Africa in October. Collectively both purchases cost the city more than $8,000. 'You have a travel policy, you have a P-card policy, (and) you have to get authorized to travel before you make that P-card purchase. He wasn't authorized to travel, he made the P-card purchase because he has the card and was allowed to swipe it,' Whichard said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] City ordinance indicates only the city clerk has the authority to approve employees to go on trips. Several transactions also showed multiple flight upgrades. The city's P-card policy only allows for economy flights to be purchased and doesn't allow upgrades. On Tuesday, the city council filed an ethics complaint against Mayor Kobi. Once the investigation is presented to the ethics board it will decide to recommend resignation, repayment or other sanctions. 'To be quite he could take luxury trips on his own dime he would have. So, the city is never going to see that money again,' Whichard said. Lincoln reached out to Mayor Kobi, he did not provide Channel 2 with a statement Thursday but did say he would speak at a later date. On Monday he cancelled Channel 2 Action News's original interview date. At that time, he told us he planned to address these allegations during Tuesday's council meeting. However, Mayor Kobi abruptly left the meeting early. Whichard says he was terminated because he enforced the city's P-card policy. He later sued the city for wrongful termination and won that lawsuit.
