Editorial

Tom Greenwood, former director of N.C. Eastern Region, might not have done anything illegal with taxpayer money, but no rational person can fail to agree that his were the lowest form of business ethics.

State auditors combed through the Eastern Region's records, and turned up instance after instance of Greenwood thumbing his nose at taxpayers. Worse, Greenwood's egregious arrogance shows how little he cared about the trust he had been given by his overseers.

And to say that Greenwood's conduct was technically legal is to give him the benefit of the doubt. Auditors don't really know that. The most they can say is that they were unable to prove illegality. His receipts, such as they were, and his co-mingling of personal and business expenses on his own and the region's American Express cards, were so convoluted that even auditors said it was difficult to differentiate between the two.

Many people whose tax money went toward financing Greenwood's excursion to the U.S. Open Golf Tournament at Pinehurst would have jumped at the chance to attend. Most couldn't afford it. Greenwood, however, spent $15,566.46 of their money to rent a house and entertain only one businessman who might - but has not - turned out to be a prospective client. Greenwood's wife and son undoubtedly enjoyed the trip paid for with public funds, however.

Greenwood's behavior should infuriate every North Carolina taxpayer who paid the former director's travel and meal tickets - and country club membership -- not only through their state income taxes, but also through that annoying $5 license fee we were charged for so long.

One can't help but wonder how Greenwood managed to pull the wool over his board's eyes for so long. They, too, must share the blame for his behavior.

Auditors understated the situation when they blamed the board for shirking its fiduciary responsibility toward North Carolinians. The board's membership was comprised of supposedly sharp business people who never would have allowed such chicanery in their own companies. As taxpayers, we should take a small measure of comfort in knowing that the board has been reorganized. The trouble is, some of the same people still are members.

Then, when Greenwood's behavior became suspect because of the auditor's investigation, board members paid him six months' salary to buy out his contract!

State Rep. Stephen LaRoque had a good idea: "Board members who agreed to pay six months severance need to come up with that money from own pockets to repay the severance," he said.

We'll go LaRoque one better: They also need to reimburse the Eastern Region for all those questionable expenses paid on dubious receipts Greenwood submitted.