North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood, a Democrat who has served in the position since 2008, announced her resignation on Thursday following her indictment on charges of misusing her state-owned vehicle for personal activities. The decision to step down came just two days after a Wake County grand jury formally accused her of a pair of misdemeanors related to the misuse of the vehicle. Wood had previously announced that she would not seek reelection in 2024. In a written statement, Wood stated, "I will step down as State Auditor on December 15, 2023, completing 30 years of service to the State of North Carolina. I made this decision because we have such a great team doing incredibly important work and I don't want to be a distraction. It has been an honor and privilege to work with such a talented staff and to serve the citizens of this great state."

The indictment follows an eight-month investigation by state agents, which began after Wood was cited last December for leaving the scene of a crash where she drove her state-owned vehicle into a parked car. In March, she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge in relation to the crash. The recent indictment alleges that Wood used her state-owned vehicle for personal activities, including hair and dental appointments, shopping trips, and visits to spa locations, which were unrelated to her official duties.

Wood, who is 69 years old and a certified public accountant, expressed her disappointment in Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman for bringing charges against her. Wood claims that she had already reimbursed the state for the personal use of the vehicle by purposely overpaying for miles she commuted to her job. In her statement, Wood acknowledged her mistakes but emphasized that she had learned from them.

As per the state constitution, Democratic Governor Roy Cooper will appoint someone to fill the remainder of Wood's four-year term, which will last until the end of 2024. Cooper may choose to appoint an interim auditor before making a permanent appointment. Wood informed Cooper of her resignation decision on Thursday afternoon, and the governor's office stated that they respect her decision and thanked her for her years of service.

The role of the state auditor is one of the 10 posts within the Council of State, which includes the governor, attorney general, and other statewide executive branch officials. Wood's announcement last week about not seeking reelection did not mention any legal troubles, except for acknowledging her mistakes and expressing her desire to pursue a public speaking career.

The news of Wood's indictment and subsequent resignation has caused a stir in North Carolina. Despite her reimbursement of the state for personal use of the vehicle, Wood still faces charges of misusing a state-issued vehicle. The details of the indictment highlight her use of the vehicle for non-official purposes, such as hair and dental appointments, shopping trips, and visits to spas. Wood's guilty plea earlier this year for a hit-and-run crash involving her state-owned vehicle in 2022 adds another layer of controversy to her tenure as state auditor.

Wood's resignation and the search for her replacement will undoubtedly be closely watched by North Carolina residents and political observers. The appointment process for the new auditor will be announced by Governor Cooper's office in the coming days.