Today, State Auditor Dave Boliek filed a response in support of a petition from Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall disputing the recent Superior Court ruling blocking transfer of elections board appointments from the governor to the state auditor.
State Auditor Boliek filed an appeal last Friday. He released the following statement on the appeal and response filing:
"The State Auditor’s Office is a constitutional office of the State of North Carolina. My office fulfills its statutory obligations as prescribed by law, including the General Assembly’s decision to transfer election board appointments to the State Auditor.
"I am prepared to take on the transfer. State Board of Elections leadership has been shifting blame away from their own inability to effectively manage. I will appoint election board members who uphold the law and put their focus toward counting legal votes, efficient tabulation, and consistency across counties.
"There is even more at stake than election board appointments in this case. Gov. Josh Stein’s legal team is arguing that his office controls the nine other independently elected statewide officials that sit on the Council of State. I stand firmly against his power grab and will continue battling in the courts."