[energetic music] - Welcome, Jessica Holmes, Democratic nominee for State Auditor, to "State Lines."

Thank you for being here.

- It's my pleasure.

- Well to first start out, you're already the sitting State Auditor.

You were appointed by Governor Cooper.

So do you consider yourself an incumbent, or an open-seat candidate for this race?

- I am the incumbent.

Every day I go to the office and I do the work.

- Tell us about yourself, your legal background.

I know just enough about you, but I can't explain you better than you can explain yourself.

- I'll start by sharing that I was born and raised in rural Eastern North Carolina.

A small town called Maple Hill in Pender County.

The proud product of our public school system.

First-generation college student.

Double-Tar Heel, go Heels!

Forever and always.

And in 2014, I first made history as the youngest person ever elected as a Wake County Commissioner.

Several years later, I had the opportunity to serve as Chair of that board, representing over one million constituents and helping to manage an over $1 billion budget.

And here we are today.

And I sit at the Council State as the first woman of color to ever serve on North Carolina's Council of State.

- When you do you know you've run your course as a leader?

Because Wake County Commission Chair is a big deal in this state.

And you did it.

You accomplished it.

You could of likely stayed there a long time.

But when do you know it's time to move to something different?

- In my case, I decided to run for Commissioner of Labor in 2020.

And came within about 1% of the vote, receiving over two million votes from across the state, as someone who was not an incumbent.

And in terms of knowing when it's time to leave, when it's time to pass the baton, I think you just know it.

And in my case, in the Wake County Board of Commissioners, there's still a lot of work to be done.

And I think I've left a pretty strong template for a lot of that work.

Particularly as it relates to funding in education, affordable housing, and really focusing in on our most vulnerable communities including our seniors and people with disabilities.

- It's interesting you're from Maple Hills in Duplin County, I know exactly where it is.

- Pender County!

- Pender County.

- Duplin is close.

- Ah, I guessed wrong.

Heading that way for years, and years, and years.

My father was in Topsail Beach.

So, I would go through there from Clinton, where I'm from.

So, we're from the same neck of the woods.

But very few people come from that neck of the woods and run Wake County Board of Commission.

Tell me about the leadership.

What did you learn in Maple Hill that translated for you, and was successful in Wake County, in all places?

- Well one thing it taught me is the intricacies of the rural urban divide.

For example, when it comes to school funding.

The Wake County budget allocates about $500 million towards the school system.

The revenue that comes into Pender County is significantly less than what Wake County allocates for our school system.

So it afforded me a very unique perspective in terms of understanding the challenges that our role and our urban communities face, which are very distinct.

- Tell me about this auditor's job.

You were appointed, what a little over a year now?

Somewhere around there?

- Yes.

- How's that job been?

What was it about it that made you say, "I'm going to," I guess apply, "to run and be the state auditor?"

At least be on the Democratic ticket?

- I will say that I did not apply.

And that I was actually not planning to run in 2024, in the 2024 cycle.

- [Kelly] So you were not?

I was gonna ask you- - And received a call from the Governor's office, and ended up having several conversations with the Governor.

And he said essentially, "Jessica, I prayed on this.

"And you are the one."

And I was initially hesitant.

And one of the things I actually said directly to him was that, "Black women aren't winning statewide "in North Carolina."

"And, you're asking me to do something impossible.

"You want me to start the job and run for the job, "all at the same time."

Given all of the outside factors of the challenges facing women in politics, and people of color in politics, and he looked at me and essentially said, "Jessica, you have made impossible things happen "all of your life."

- Well, we looked at polls recently.

Donald Trump seems to be leading slightly in this state.

He's won the last couple of times.

It's not impossible for a Democrat to win a Trump year.

Roy Cooper is living proof of that.

So, what do you say to Trump voters who are looking at that auditor's race as one of their options on the ballot?

What makes you the best choice, even if they wanna go red at the top of the ticket?

- Well, North Carolina is known for sort of zig-zagging when it comes to voting.

Which is how we ended up with a Democratic Governor, and a largely Republican General Assembly, and a Republican Lieutenant Governor.

That said, what I would say to those people is that while the State Auditor's race isn't very sexy, it's not typically the one that lands in the headline.

It's one of the most important positions in state government when it comes to following the money, and making sure it gets to the people and places that it needs to get.

And so what I would say to those people is that money isn't red or blue, it's green.

And per statute, the State Auditor is the state's independent auditor.

And therefore, while I certainly have a political affiliation, that does not and should not come into play when it comes to conducting the work.

And I can assure that at any given time, it is not unusual for someone on either side of the aisle to be upset with the State Auditor's office because my mindset is to just do the work and follow the money, regardless of where it goes.

I'm particularly passionate about things like hurricane relief.

As someone who physically swept flood water out of my living room growing up.

As someone who was raised by my grandmother.

So, I care very deeply about senior care.

And people with disabilities.

As someone who grew up as the beneficiary of SNAP benefits, for example.

It's important to me to make sure that our state and our counties get those resources out to people as quickly as possible.

So for me, it's about the work.

I don't take my talking point from any political party.

And I think most people would tell you that if I have to vote alone, I will.

And I'm very, I'm very much a purpose-driven person.

In that, the thing that allows me to sleep well at night is knowing that I did my best, and that I have a clear conscience.

The auditor's signature goes on to all those audits.

And you're the public-facing person presenting it.

Tell me about the team underneath it.

Is the auditor someone who rolls the sleeves up and does the audit?

Or, is it more of a leadership position that creates an environment so people who can dive deeply, can dive deeply with confidence?

Which way does it go?

- That actually depends on the day.

And so, I am certainly one of those people that's willing to call the team in for a meeting, and roll our sleeves up, and answer some tough questions about audits, and the direction of the office.

I would say, I've spent my entire life knowing and understanding that there are titles, and there are positions, and that there's actual leadership.

And I think those things are very distinct.

And I work really hard to not just have the State Auditor's title, but to be a leader within our team.

I have been very fortunate in inheriting a very solid and competent team that is similar to me in that, we just wanna do the work.

We're not in it for the headlines.

We're not in it for the money.

We are in it because we love North Carolina.

And because we want to make sure that the money gets to the people and places that need it most, having been a beneficiary of many of those benefits.

- It's a huge difference in being an appointee to fulfill a term, and being duly elected for a four-year term.

And I would think it's cultural.

So I have to ask, and I've asked everyone.

What kind of culture have you instilled, or do you want to instill, if you get the voter's confidence for the next four years and beyond?

- In terms of the public's trust, I came into this office under very unique circumstances.

And, it is a top priority for me to rebuild the public's trust, and to lead with integrity.

And not just integrity on behalf of North Carolinians, but also integrity inside the office as much as outside of the office.

And so, I work very closely with my team.

And I remind them that while my signature goes on the audits, it's a collaboration.

It's the team that does the work.

And it takes all of us.

I often also remind them that the Office of the State Auditor is not, and has never been about one person.

And that, it's their office.

And that I am there to help them be successful.

And to make sure that I am their advocate.

And that I provide the direction for the office.

- What should legislators and other government watchdogs expect of you, compared to what they received and expected of Beth Wood, who was in the office until 2023?

- I will note one thing that they can expect from me, is my continued advocacy for additional resources.

There are vacant seats all across state government.

And, my office is no different in that regard.

So, I will be very consistent in advocating for funding increases for all state employees, and also flexibility in the funding that we do receive.

I think they can count on me to be a straight shooter.

And to say what I mean, and for me to mean what I say.

And to know that when I sign an audit, that it has been done with integrity.

It has been done in a unbiased and irrefutable way to the best of my ability.

- We got one minute left in this interview segment.

I wanna ask you on behalf of the people of North Carolina, are there certain audits they can expect from you?

Are there certain focuses, or attention, you're gonna give to certain departments inside our state government, if elected?

- Absolutely.

I'll start with senior care, and nursing homes, and making sure that, for example, nursing home inspections are happening in a timely manner.

Because one of my goals is to make sure that we peek under the rug for the people that can't do so themselves.

To speak for the people that are the most vulnerable, who are on the receiving end of state resources.

Who may, or may not, actually be receiving those benefits.

So for me the focus of the office is to make sure that every tax dollar goes to where it's supposed to go in the most efficient and effective way for the benefit of all North Carolinians.

- This is Jessica Holmes, folks.

She is the Democratic nominee for North Carolina Auditor.

Thank you for being on our show, and thank you for this interview.

Good luck on the trail, be safe with all those travels.

I wish everyone well.

- Thank you.

- Because after November, it will be back to business as usual, so- - I look forward to that!

[Kelly chuckling] [energetic music]