PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WVEC) -- The man in charge of finding wasteful spending of city tax dollars is terminated, according to Portsmouth city officials.
On Tuesday night, City Auditor Jesse Thomas was fired from his position as the city’s first auditor by council members. Council members voted 5-2 to terminate Thomas.
Portsmouth Mayor Kenny Wright and council member Mark Whitaker voted against his termination. Whitaker said the decision to terminate Thomas was random.
" I think what has just occurred, I think it is reckless and and it's a disservice," said Whitaker.
For years, several city leaders have been upset that Thomas was paid a $90,000 annual salary and failed to perform his job duties.
Some told 13News Now back in 2013 that Thomas failed to complete a single audit that year.
Thomas was hired in 2013 as the city's first auditor in order to help find inefficiencies in government. After city officials became aware that he didn't do any audits, council members decided to give Thomas three months to improve the quality of his work.
Tuesday night Vice Mayor Elizabeth Psimas said she was fed up last month after not receiving anything from Thomas about his job performance.
"This just didn't work for us it hadn't worked from the get go and it was just a complete waste of money in my mind," said Psimas.
Thomas told 13News Now, things just didn't go well.
"If you look at any locality and how many audits they do per auditor. I don't know if that's true but I came here I was voted in 7-0 and that's how life goes. But it is what it is and I move on," said Thomas.
Portsmouth Mayor Wright and Council member Whitaker voted NO on city auditor termination. @13NewsNow
— Arrianee LeBeau (@13ALeBeau) April 26, 2016