Transparency push gains momentum after Duplin County manager resigns

KENANSVILLE — Amid growing concerns over transparency and financial oversight in Duplin County government, Jessica Thomas, a Sarecta resident and leader of the Duplin County Coalition for Accountability and Transparency, has become a driving force for reform filing more than 30 public records requests and conducting outreach to state and federal agencies.

Last week, Thomas met with county administration and officials to discuss concerns about public records requests that have received pushback or remain outstanding.

“I’ve circulated this county employee survey that people are filling out anonymously. And some things have come up that are very concerning,” said Thomas, who has taken the initiative to investigate and consolidate findings to present to the county commissioners.

This comes in the wake of the abrupt resignation of former county manager Bryan Miller, who, as of press time, has not responded to Duplin Journal’s request for comment.

“I think the straw that broke the camel’s back here was that the county had $273,000 worth of work done that was not properly bid out,” said Thomas. “And it was not completed by a general contractor.”

According to Thomas, the projects were awarded without undergoing the required bidding process. While county officials claimed the projects began under the $30,000 threshold, no documentation was provided to show how the projects were approved, whether cost increases occurred, or if proper change orders were issued. Documents shared with Duplin Journal show at least four projects exceed the limit that triggers informal bidding and written documentation under N.C. General Statute 143-131.

Thomas told Duplin Journal that communication has improved and that county leadership has begun actively brainstorming solutions to enhance transparency and public trust.

“It’s clear that they want to move forward,” said Thomas.

She noted that the coalition had submitted a list of recommendations to both the commissioners and administrative staff and expressed optimism about the shared commitment to reform. She described the recent efforts as a positive turning point. While she plans to continue her advocacy and oversight work, she characterized the current progress as a step toward resolution.

According to Thomas, officials told her they were limited in what they could discuss due to public records laws, but reiterated that her requests would be handled according to statute.

Among the issues Thomas has documented is the disbanding of the Tourism Development Authority and the termination of staff members who were allegedly asked to sign severance agreements that appeared to function as nondisclosure agreements issued by the county’s human resources department at the direction of Miller.

In addition to her local advocacy, Thomas has been in contact with state and federal authorities, including the State Auditor’s Office, the Department of Justice, and the State Bureau of Investigation, regarding financial oversight in Duplin County. She said investigators encouraged her to continue gathering information and to submit findings to District Attorney Ernie Lee.

Following Miller’s resignation, Thomas reports that more individuals have come forward with information.

“We are the bosses,” said Thomas. “We don’t have cannons and muskets like they did 250 years ago, but we do have knowledge and we have our words and they carry weight.”

Last Saturday, the NAACP recognized Thomas’s efforts with the Trailblazer of Freedom Award at its annual Freedom Fund Banquet.