Republican State Auditor Les Merritt’s latest public disservice ad continues his pattern of using his public office for partisan gain.

Merritt’s office unleashed this week thinly-veiled campaign ads to be aired in major media markets. While they don’t use his face or voice, a violation of state law, the ads refer the viewers to a website that features Merritt’s bio and a “picture of the Republican peering through a magnifying glass”, the Insider reported.

Mr. Merritt’s ad also uses the phrase “the taxpayers’ watchdog”, the same tiresome one he used in his campaign ads.

In addition, his services don’t come cheap. Mr. Merritt spent $150,000 in public money on the campaign, with $10,000 of it going toward the ad’s production.

“It’s simply wrong to use state money to run ads featuring his campaign slogan,” said NCDP Chair Jerry Meek. “This is a clear attempt by Mr. Merritt to reinforce his campaign slogan at taxpayer expense.”