RALEIGH – Amid reports that he may have inappropriately used funds from the organization for personal use, State Employees Association Dana Cope resigned Tuesday after about 15 years on the job.

The resignation comes after reports from the Raleigh News and Observer that the organization had paid $109,000 in unbid work to the landscaping firm that had also done extensive work at Cope’s home.

He explained to the organization’s board of trustees that in light of recent events, his continuing to lead the State Employees Association of North Carolina would be a distraction to our mission advocating for state employees and retirees.

A statement, on the organization’s website read:

“We appreciate the job that Mr. Cope has done for this association over the last 15 years. He and his contributions to this association and its members will be missed. We, as the Executive Committee, maintain that in the course of our investigation into the allegations made against Mr. Cope we have discovered no misappropriation of funds and no financial improprieties.”

“However, as we move forward, the Executive Committee has already begun to review its internal policies and procedures as we continue to work to make this association as strong and effective as it can be. To help us in this transition, we have named Mitch Leonard as interim executive director, effective today (Tuesday)”