4 Pages of Corruption

5/8/2009 12:23:36 PM

Quote :

"Perdue got the voting block that doesn't normally come out because of Obama. Where is your Republican thread?"

She got more votes than Obama.

This proves that you are incapable of any legitimate thinking beyond copy and paste. It's sad really.

[Edited on May 8, 2009 at 4:39 PM. Reason : .]

5/8/2009 4:39:16 PM

in no way was my last comment meant to insinuate racism

MattJM321 has never condoned such a channel

KEEP THOSE DIRTY DEMS COMIN



O MAX COMMANDS IT

5/9/2009 1:53:20 AM

this thread should have been updated as soon as N&O hit the stands this morning?

5/10/2009 5:53:56 PM

link?

5/10/2009 7:22:28 PM

what happened to my mom's paycheck is absolutely pathetic. it makes no sense to me that .05% of a 30-year teacher's salary gets taken out to balance a budget, especially with an "Education Lottery" supposedly supplementing the education system. tack on the fact that my mom is considered one of the best in her system and just finished her National Board certification about two years ago, and it's just that much worse. even lamer? Perdue sent a cheery e-mail just last week to teachers in NC thanking them for all they do.

5/11/2009 9:29:47 PM

boo fucking hoo

5/11/2009 11:57:39 PM

i'm sure you'd like it if big boy obama took half your next paycheck, now wouldn't you?

they claim to want better education and then screw over the few good teachers they have left.. it doesn't make sense.

[Edited on May 12, 2009 at 8:37 PM. Reason : ]

5/12/2009 8:36:49 PM

a state employee is a state employee

from the dmv to the garbage man to me

everybody took that hit

btw have a jump in here if you'd like to continue to discuss that message_topic.aspx?topic=563606

5/12/2009 8:56:29 PM

Actually the government does take from my paycheck.

5/13/2009 8:06:06 AM

But I thought Bev Purdue was a teacher and she was going to give raises to teachers

5/13/2009 10:46:49 AM

Quote :

"i'm sure you'd like it if big boy obama took half your next paycheck, now wouldn't you? they claim to want better education and then screw over the few good teachers they have left.. it doesn't make sense."

1) It is .5%

2) It was also taken from my paycheck

3) Teachers are still getting their tiered pay increases

4) Boo fucking hoo

5/13/2009 3:38:18 PM

this isn't complicated nutsmackr. as much as you might not mind giving up .5% of your salary, most people don't particularly like the idea, especially considering the circumstances and reasons i've already pointed out. as for number 3 of your points, you make it sound like teachers get relatively good pay. aside from higher professors... this isn't usually the case. as for number 4...

5/14/2009 12:50:30 AM

back on topic

n&o fallout

http://ncsu.edu/about-nc-state/chancellor/speeches-and-writings/2009/provost-resign/index.php

5/14/2009 10:30:27 AM

Mary Easley needs to resign next.

5/14/2009 12:07:06 PM

^^^You missed the fucking point. On a whole, teachers receive better treatment from the State government then the rest of us lowly State employees and in many cases, us State employees make far less then the teachers. Yet, when anything goes down that marginally affects teachers they cry with the best of them.

so boo fucking hoo.

5/14/2009 1:02:01 PM

Quote :

" The Tahoe, the Honda, the ex-guv and his wife When former Gov. Mike Easley was asked in late March by The News & Observer about the new Honda Accord his wife was driving, and why it was owned by a Rick Hendrick dealership in Charlotte, he said it was "a loaner until her car comes in." New records show that it shouldn't have taken a long time to find her car after it was ordered. The Accord bought by Mary Easley arrived at a lot in Anderson, S.C., in October 2008, records show. The Easleys indeed bought a different Accord from Hendrick, an Easley friend and NASCAR team owner. The purchase price was $29,658. Moreover, the sales invoice and the notary date on the title transfer document show a purchase date of March 29, the same day the story was published in The N&O. The title application lists two dates, March 27 and March29. A separate insurance form has Mike Easley's name signed on it and is dated March 27. Either way, all of it happened a few days after The N&O started asking questions about the loaner that Mary Easley had been driving for at least six weeks in an unusual arrangement. The former governor had said March 27 that he was driving a used Tahoe. The new records show Easley bought a used 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe from Hendrick Chevrolet in Cary, paying $39,332. The purchase date was March 28. "

http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1526532.html

Quote :

" NCSU provost resigns amid Easley issues   Dr. Larry Nielsen, the provost at N.C. State, has resigned amid questions about his role in the hiring of former first lady Mary Easley.   A news release from the university says he is stepping down effective May 22.   "I have chosen to resign because of the intense public attention and criticism from my hiring of Mrs. Mary Easley and now because of questions surrounding the way I was hired as provost," Nielsen said in a letter to the NCSU community.   A report in Sunday's News & Observer showed that Nielsen hired Mary Easley in May 2005 while he was interim provost -- and was about to be replaced. A public search process involving four other candidates began on the same day that Mary Easley faxed her resume to Nielsen. Nielsen waived a job search, created a new position and hired Mary Easley for it two weeks later.   Nielsen has said the idea and the decision was his alone, but people involved in that search and university life say a temporary provost would not create a new position and fund it without consulting others. Nielsen has refused all requests for interviews since March 31.   Last summer, Nielsen awarded Mary Easley a five-year $850,000 contract that touched off months of controversy. "The personal stress associated with this situation has simply become unbearable," Nielsen said in his letter today. "... I am dismayed that many people outside the university, and some within it, have attributed motives to my hiring of Mrs. Easley that are absolutely false and groundless."   He wrote that he hopes his resignation as provost "will prove to be the solution to these problems."   Chancellor James Oblinger accepted the resignation. He said in a statement that he would convene a search committee and conduct a national search for a new provost. Dr. Warwick Arden, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, will serve as interim provost.   Oblinger said in a statement and letter to the editor of The News & Observer that there was no improper influence on Nielsen in the hiring of Mary Easley.”   I know him to be a good and honest person who is incapable of willfully damaging the integrity of North Carolina State University," Oblinger wrote.   Nielsen will be joining the faculty in N.C. State's College of Natural Resources. Nielsen was interim provost from January 2005 to June 2005 and then provost since then. Before that, he was dean of N.C. State's College of Natural Resources. "

 
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1527264.html <http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1527264.html>
 
I don’t know what to think about the Provost.

5/14/2009 1:33:47 PM

you should know that he's a good man

5/14/2009 1:44:10 PM

I don't know much about him other than that boneheaded hiring decision. If you personally know him and can vouch for him...that's worth more.

I'm surprised Mary Easley hasn't spoken up, but that's probably because of a looming court case against her husband. The last time I saw anything about her in the paper was when she was defending her 88% raise.

Who knows, if this issue never made the news (and who knows how many similar deals across the state that fell through the cracks), it probably would've been for the better for NCSU to have the governor's wife on staff for extra perks/gear grease.

5/14/2009 3:00:54 PM

double post

[Edited on May 14, 2009 at 3:05 PM. Reason : phone glitch]

5/14/2009 3:02:53 PM

Let's save some money and not replace the "Provost" position. Just let the Chancellor handle all the graft and corruption.

5/14/2009 10:49:56 PM

can we please just move on from all this easley shit? seriously

[Edited on May 15, 2009 at 12:24 AM. Reason : more important things?]

5/15/2009 12:24:02 AM

yes, what couldn't be more important than massive corruption on the part of a former governor?

5/15/2009 9:13:21 AM

Quote :

"college athletes /= an elected official who is paid by money taken out of my paycheck"

Where do you think athletic scholarship and benefit money comes from? That ridiculous athletics fee that we have to pay every year. By being a student at NC State, you have o pay your fee (much like a tax) that is then used to buy cars for student athletes. The only difference is that how the athlete performs really has no effect on my life other than the end-of-season disappointment we have all become accustomed to. I'd rather buy cars for my governor and his family than some punk athlete who might not even stay in North Carolina after his sophomore year.

5/15/2009 9:44:03 AM

hmmm, let's see... college athlete, getting 10k a year... governor, running the state, getting 150k a year... hmmm...

college athlete, playing football... governor, playing with politics and our money... hmmm...

5/15/2009 10:00:09 AM

Quote :

"Bowles wants NCSU chairman out UNC system head is 'very disappointed' in Campbell's role in the hiring of Mary Easley. BY J. ANDREW CURLISS - Staff writer Published: Fri, May. 15, 2009 The president of the University of North Carolina system has asked McQueen Campbell, chairman of the N.C. State University board, to resign immediately after learning this week that Campbell played a role in hiring former first lady Mary Easley. Erskine Bowles told The News & Observer on Thursday that Campbell phoned him earlier this week and "went through a whole mea culpa," then recounted telling Chancellor James Oblinger that Easley was looking to change jobs before N.C. State hired her in 2005."

Bowles is cleaning house? Mr. Bowles had no idea this was going on at the time?

The Carolina Journal was all over these Easley stories during his term. Of course since it was a conservative newspaper, the investigative stories were all completely ignored at the time.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2972/story/1528178.html

[Edited on May 15, 2009 at 10:07 AM. Reason : .]

5/15/2009 10:06:46 AM

From the WRAL ticker

Quote :

"Breaking News: The FBI has subpoenaed Highway Patrol records regarding former Gov. Mike Easley's travel while in office."

5/15/2009 11:44:57 AM

Nobody seemed to give a shit when I posted about this situation nearly a year ago. Now, the NCSU provost is out and the FBI is investigating Mike Easley's travel.

message_topic.aspx?topic=517497

5/15/2009 12:22:10 PM

Nielson was the only member of the administration that I actually liked. Regardless of his role in this mess, he was damn good at his job and always listened to the student voice. You can't say that about Oblinger, Stafford, or any of those other old fucks.

5/15/2009 4:02:21 PM

hooksaw wins.

The Easleys are renowned pieces of shit.

5/20/2009 12:06:48 AM

And in other news, federal investigators have subpoenaed documents related to Mary Easley from state auditor Beth A. Wood.


http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/1543083.html


Also, what does everyone think about Blue Cross's major donations to recent Democrat campaigns?
http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1536321.html


The market data hit a particularly raw nerve with state employees, who are covered by a BCBS of North Carolina plan that was negotiated without a bid, and has suffered massive losses that taxpayers and state workers are now paying to resolve.[/quote]

Not sure how legit this site is, but it's the first thing that showed up from Google. http://www.democracy-nc.org/BlueCrossMemo.shtml

Quote :

"An analysis by Democracy North Carolina reveals that no other company the size of Blue Cross has donated more to state politics through its political action committee –- a total of $643,000 from the 2000 election cycle through 2008. Seven company-backed PACs have given more, like those of the big banks and utilities, but all seven of those corporations operate in multiple states and are much larger than Blue Cross. As a not-for-profit corporation, Blue Cross is in a class of its own. Who are the top recipients of the contributions from the Blue Cross PAC for 2000-2008? Number One is state Sen. Tony Rand (Democratic Majority Leader and chair of the Senate Select Committee on Employee Hospital and Medical Benefits), who received $36,000. Number Two is Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, who received $35,000. Senate Democrat David Hoyle is next, and several Republicans make it among the top 15 recipients, including former House Speakers Harold Brubaker and Richard Morgan, Rep. Jerry Dockham, and Senators Phil Berger and Tom Apodaca. "

http://www.democracy-nc.org/nc/2009/bcpac.pdf

TOP RECIPIENTS OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM
BLUE CROSS PAC AND EXECUTIVES,
2000-2008 ELECTION CYCLES
RECIPIENT Amount from PAC Amount from Top Execs. Total from PAC and Execs.
TONY RAND $ 36,000 $ 7,850 $ 43,850
MARC BASNIGHT 35,000 20,600 55,600
DAVID HOYLE 27,000 1,500 28,500
WALTER DALTON 21,000 10,000 31,000
HAROLD BRUBAKER 20,000 1,000 21,000
ROY COOPER 18,000 18,033 36,033
JERRY DOCKHAM 13,250 13,250
HUGH HOLLIMAN 13,000 13,000
NC SENATE DEMOCRATIC COMM 12,000 12,000
ED MCMAHAN 11,250 11,250
RICHARD MORGAN 11,000 6,000 17,000
PHIL BERGER 10,700 10,700
TOM APODACA 9,400 9,400
MIKE EASLEY 9,000 6,500 15,500
ROBERT GRADY 8,750 8,750
WILLIAM PURCELL 8,750 8,750
BEVERLY PERDUE 8,500 11,000 19,500
TOTAL LISTED RECIPIENTS $ 272,600 $ 82,483 $ 355,083
OTHER RECIPIENTS $ 370,307 $ 34,600 $ 404,907
TOTAL $ 642,907 $ 117,083 $ 759,990

5/26/2009 11:33:07 PM

DEMOCRAT PARTY

5/28/2009 1:50:00 PM

Perry


Brady

Quote :

"2 plead guilty to bribery to speed ethanol plant RALEIGH -- A former Wake Forest mayor and a Raleigh businessman pleaded guilty Monday to bribery charges for promising a state official nearly $200,000 to speed up environmental permits for a proposed ethanol plant. Federal prosecutors also disclosed Monday that two other investors in the ethanol plant, including a former owner of a topless bar in Raleigh, extorted money to speed environmental permits for a project in 2002. But they said the statute of limitations for filing charges in that incident has passed. In Monday's court appearance, James Albert Perry Jr., a 62-year-old former mayor of Wake Forest, and David Lee Brady, 76, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. The pleas stemmed from events starting in 2004, when they promised $196,000 to Boyce Hudson, then an employee of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, for expediting the permits for their planned ethanol plant in Aurora, in southeastern Beaufort County. Hudson served as a liaison between the environmental agency and the legislature and governor's office from 1993 until he retired in 2005. He has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to more than three years in prison. Perry and Brady declined to comment through their lawyers, Hart Miles and Stephen Smith, respectively, of Raleigh. They were not sentenced Monday. Prosecutors said that the investigation into the ethanol project is continuing. The Agri-Ethanol case, first made public in the spring of 2008 when federal officials indicted Hudson, was a departure from the high-profile scandals that soiled the state's reputation in recent years and brought down, among others, the speaker of the House. The Agri-Ethanol case dipped into the bureaucracy of state government, where a mid-level state employee in the state's lead environmental agency was offering to expedite valued permits in exchange for six-figure payoffs. The plant's backers, though, were never able to raise enough money to get the plant built. Brady was CEO of Agri-Ethanol Products, and Perry was an investor. Two other investors whose names emerged in court Monday were Thomas "Ricky" Wright, of Wake Forest, and Barry Green, of Raleigh. Wright served as a state liquor regulator for nearly a decade and held a fundraiser at his home for Gov. Beverly Perdue in 2006. After Wright's name was tied to the Agri-Ethanol case in court documents last year, Perdue's campaign returned contributions from Wright and Green but kept money collected at the fundraiser. Green owns Crowley's Old Favorites restaurant in Raleigh but previously was an owner of Thee Dollhouse, a Raleigh topless bar. Wright and Green met Hudson, the environmental official, in 1993. Then-Gov. Jim Hunt's office dispatched Hudson to help resolve a problem Wright and Green were having with permits for a development project, according to court documents. Wright, Green and Hudson socialized for the next decade at Crowley's and Thee Dollhouse, prosecutors said. Wright and Green eventually introduced Hudson to Perry and Brady and the Agri-Ethanol project years later. In 2002, Wright and Green directed the developer of an asphalt plant to meet with Hudson for help with permits for the plant, according to court documents. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Duffy said the asphalt developer wrote a check for $11,500 to Green's restaurant in exchange for help with the permits. "They shook him down for $11,500," U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle told Duffy in court Monday, referring to Wright and Green. Duffy replied: "They did." Boyle asked if it was extortion. "I would say you could argue it's conspiracy to extort money," Duffy said. Duffy pointed out that was a similar kind of charge to which Perry and Brady were pleading Monday, but that the statute of limitations for charging Wright or Green had passed. Boyle expressed puzzlement over how anyone could effectively serve as a broker for the state's environmental permits. "Is this just a market-driven phenomenon?" Boyle asked somewhat facetiously, "or is there a price schedule somewhere?" Wright did not respond to a message left on his home answering machine. Green, reached at his restaurant, said he was unaware of the court proceedings and of the allegations involving the asphalt developer. "I don't have any idea what you're talking about," he said. "

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1551688.html

Now apply this scheme to all the "stimulus" money and investing in green energy.

[Edited on June 2, 2009 at 10:07 AM. Reason : .]

6/2/2009 10:05:40 AM

Argh, ya got me. It was all a huge scam to make money for green energy and the Democrat Party. A big ass monolithic scam planned and orchestrated from central HQ underneath George Soros's house.

6/7/2009 11:12:57 PM

http://www.newsobserver.com/executive_privilege/story/1560419.html

Quote :

"Records: Mike Easley involved in hiring New documents show that the Mary Easley job at N.C. State University was orchestrated at the highest levels of state government, and included the direct involvement of then-Gov. Mike Easley. E-mail messages show the creation of the job for Mary Easley was orchestrated in April and May of 2005 by the governor and that her job formation also included his wife, Mary; the chancellor at N.C. State, James Oblinger; a key trustee, McQueen Campbell; a senior adviser to Easley who now heads the Golden Leaf Foundation, Dan Gerlach; and an NCSU lobbyist at the time, Andy Willis. Until now, officials have all denied any involvement in the hiring other than by former Provost Larry Nielsen, who the records show was also involved in creating the position that gave Mary Easley an $80,000, three-year contract to oversee a speakers series and help teach a class. The emails indicate that Gerlach, a key aide to the governor, was involved in making the first contacts on behalf of the Easleys and it was done in quiet — "people up the food chain don't know," he wrote. Campbell and Gerlach then exchange e-mail messages about possibilities. Campbell forwards the exchange to Willis. Gerlach writes to Campbell on April 27, 2005: "Did you get what you needed?" under a subject heading of possible classes for Mary Easley to teach. Campbell replies: "I did. Thanks for your help and I will keep you posted!" That same day, Oblinger then writes to McQueen Campbell, saying it is obvious that she would be wanted on campus. "My question to her is money related in that they (in poly sci) are very much into the pay-by-the-course mode vs. contract. Any sense as to the importance of a contract to the first lady?" Campbell, who was close to Gov. Easley, writes to Oblinger: "I think that is more what he had in mind to try and get her at least where she is now. I can speak more in person later." The next day, Oblinger writes to Campbell: "I must speak with Provost as this is an academic matter -- appointment, contract, etc. Am thinking contract mediated by me but discussion of subject matter by the dean with her, ok? Will need to speak with you about a couple of other things related to this." A day after that, on April 29 2005, Oblinger wrote to Campbell: "MCQ: We're ready to move on this; next step is in the Mansion, I think. Then, I would propose that I make contact and then turn this over to the Provost and the two deans who are interested. They, then can decide upon what courses the First Lady would consider teaching and what, if any, other duties/activities would be involved. Let me know once there is a strategy on that end. Thanks." Campbell writes back: "Just chatted with the Gov and he plans to talk to her this afternoon and will call me back after he has had this conversation. I will be in touch when he calls." The next day, Campbell wrote to Oblinger: "The Gov called me back today and Mary is interested and would like to meet with you as soon as possible... I could introduce her to you then I would leave you two to your business." Oblinger replied to Campbell that he was booked up with other events, suggesting, "perhaps she'd meet with Provost Nielsen (?)" On May 19, 2005, Nielsen wrote to Campbell that he had met with Mary Easley and two deans and agreed on a work plan for her. Campbell replied to Nielsen: "Great! The meeting obviously went well and I chatted with the Gov late last week and he says she's very excited about it..." The messages were produced as part of an ongoing federal investigation, and provided to The News & Observer today by a lawyer for N.C. State. Easley was hired on May 26 by Nielsen. "

Haven't seen anything else about, but Oblinger resigned today. There's info about Gerlach on the first page of this thread.

6/8/2009 2:29:53 PM

http://www.newsobserver.com/2972/story/1573684.html

Quote :

" A wide-ranging federal investigation of former Gov. Mike Easley appears to be venturing into renovations of his Southport house and a marina lease that resulted in an ethics complaint against him. Several people tied to the marina deal appeared Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Raleigh, where a grand jury was meeting. Among them was Carl Stewart Jr., a former state House speaker and the current chairman of the state Ports Authority, which oversees the marina. Stewart said in an interview late Wednesday that he spent about 30 minutes with the grand jury, answering questions mostly about the marina deal, which was finalized in late 2005 and early 2006. The lease deal gave long-term control of the state-owned Southport marina to a group backed by Jim Goodnight and John Sall, founders of Cary's SAS business software firm, and it led to major improvements of the dilapidated marina. Critics had said the deal was too favorable to campaign supporters of the governor. "The questions seemed to be appropriate about the decisions that were made," said Stewart, who was appointed by Easley. Records show that Easley aides worked to shift control of the marina to new owners as Easley's second term began. Stewart said he does not believe anything illegal took place. He said scores of documents about the deal will be turned over as soon as today. Residents of Southport fought Easley on the marina deal, saying he was pushing the 430-slip marina to his friends. Records showed that the management group included Wilmington developer Nick Garrett and Cary developers Julian "Bubba" Rawl and Tim Smith, who along with Goodnight and Sall had donated to Easley's campaigns. Easley denied any improper action, and the ethics complaint was dismissed. Ports officials had said the marina was in bad shape and needed many repairs. They said a long-term lease with those people would lead to improvements. Garrett was also at the courthouse in Raleigh on Wednesday, according to an assistant at his office. He performed a renovation on Easley's Southport home beginning in June 2001, about six months after Easley took office. A check later provided by the Governor's Office showed that Easley wrote a check to Nick Garrett Construction Inc. in the amount of $200,000 on March 5, 2002. Officials have said Garrett dropped out of the marina deal just before it was approved. Rawl said in an interview that the company now operating the marina has also been contacted by federal agents. Easley, who could not be reached, has previously said he welcomes any investigation of his many years in public service. Easley, a Democrat, was governor from 2001 until January. A list of subpoenas Investigators will not comment on what they are probing, but they have issued subpoenas to several state agencies and others seeking information about issues related to Easley that include his family's use of cars, a job created for his wife at N.C. State University, and a coastal land deal in which the governor and Mary Easley acquired a waterfront lot. Until now, though, it was not clear that authorities were also interested in the marina deal, which generated lots of chatter in Easley's hometown when it appeared that the state ports authority was about to sell the state-owned marina to private developers in 2005. Records released in recent months to The News & Observer include documentation of a private lunch that Easley had with Garrett in June 2004 at his Wilmington office. Garrett, who also had been awarded a motor vehicle tag office and was appointed to two state boards by Easley, could not be reached. The next night, Easley attended an event at Goodnight's house in Cary, records show. E-mails provided to the grand jury by N.C. State also include a mention of Easley seeking help from the university's chancellor for Rawl's son, Jordy, in early 2005. Rawl said in an interview that the governor had written a recommendation letter to help his son get into a program at NCSU that provides academic support for freshmen. A friend of the governor and university trustee, McQueen Campbell, thanked Chancellor James Oblinger in April 2005 for helping Jordy Rawl. By the end of that year, Easley was taking criticism from his neighbors in Southport over the efforts to sell the marina. Eventually, ports officials negotiated a long-term lease with a company led by Rawl and Smith, who have completed many other projects with financial backing of the SAS founders. The marina company made improvements valued at more than $2.5 million to the marina. The lease is for up to 40 years. The state gets $160,000 a year from the marina company. "

Info about the marina: http://www.metronc.com/article/?id=1594

Quote :

"As the initial phase of the renovation of the Southport Marina nears completion, Rose notes that the marina can accommodate 210 boats in the water and anticipates accommodating 350-400 boats in storage."

According to the marina's website, here is the dockage rates pdf: http://www.southport-marina.com/2009%20Dockage%20Rates.pdf

Let's say on average, each boat in a slip is 40'. That would $400 if they signed an annual lease, $480 for 6 month.

So in boat slips, if all 210 were full of 40' boats ~ $84k a month. Also, it costs $20 a month for dry rack storage (not bad), but still ~$7k a month. They also lease waterfront waterfront office space, which brings in ~5k a month for the top floor. Gregory Poole (of caterpillar store in Raleigh) is running the boatyard.

All in all, I'm making a off the wall assumption that the place brings in ~100k a month. Throw in fuel sales/launch fees and who knows how much they make. Not bad for a 40 year lease and $2.5m investment and $160,000 a year payment to Port Authority.

6/18/2009 10:10:37 AM

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/wake/story/1575114.html

Wake Dems want fallen official on election panel

Quote :

"RALEIGH -- The Wake County Democratic Party has nominated three people to potentially oversee local elections, including a former state official convicted in a criminal coverup. Alexander Killens, 55, resigned amid scandal as commissioner of the state Division of Motor Vehicles in 1996. He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of justice after interfering with an SBI investigation into a DMV employee's misuse of state property. Killens was nominated to the Wake County Board of Elections last week, along with current member Sharon Everett and Raleigh lawyer Aida Doss Havel. The state Democratic Party will now decide whether to forward those names to the state Board of Elections, which will appoint two Democrats to the Wake board. Killens' consideration for the sensitive job of certifying local elections is drawing the ire of Republicans, as well as offering an opportunity to score political points as Democrats struggle with a federal probe into the dealings of former Gov. Mike Easley. "We have to question why the Wake County Democratic Party would choose to nominate an individual who has been convicted of obstruction of justice, and who at one time was banned from holding public office in North Carolina, to the Board of Elections when there are so many good, honest people in Wake County to choose from to serve," Claude Pope, Wake GOP chairman, said in a statement. Killens said something that happened more than 13 years ago shouldn't disqualify him for public service. "That's history," Killens said Thursday. "All that is past. I'm not going to rehash it." John H. Gilbert, the long-serving chairman of the Wake elections board, was not renominated after a vote held at a meeting June 11 of more than 100 members of the county party. Jack Nichols, Wake Democrats chairman, said there was no discussion of Killens' past troubles before the vote. "I understand he had some criminal problems, but my understanding is that those are resolved and expunged," said Nichols, a Raleigh lawyer. "I was trying to promote unity. His was the only name put up by the African American community." In fact, Killens' criminal conviction is still a matter of public record and is listed in the online database for the state courts system. Appointed by then-Gov. Jim Hunt in 1993,Killens had problems involving one of his employees, Algie Toomer. Toomer, who sometimes served as Killens' personal driver, was the subject of an SBI investigation after he received a controversial $100,000 state settlement, the purpose of which has never been fully disclosed. The payment, which was widely characterized as hush money, prompted state House Republicans to hold hearings on the issue. Killens was charged with obstruction of justice after he told investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation an internal inquiry had cleared Toomer of wrongdoing. That was not true. The former commissioner received a 45-day suspended sentence and five years of unsupervised probation. As part of his plea deal, he was also banned from seeking election or holding a government position for five years. Despite the criminal conviction, Killens has stayed active in local politics. He ran unsuccessfully for state House in 2002 and recently sought appointment to the unexpired term of Sen. Vernon Malone, who died in April. Nichols said Gilbert had served admirably as chairman of the elections board and is still interested in the position. He said he would not be disappointed if state party officials use their discretion to renominate Gilbert to the seat, disregarding one of the local party's suggested candidates. "John has done a good job, and the state party can still nominate whomever they want," the county chairman said. "We're sort of like Russian dolls. Everybody does their part and then passes it on." The state Board of Elections will appoint the Wake board, which consists of two Democrats and one Republican, because of the relative proportion of each party's registered voters in the county. Killens said he'll let others decide whether he should be appointed. "I've served this community admirably," Killens said. "The party has a decision to make, and I'm sure they will make their decision. This isn't the only controversial matter they are dealing with at this time. If that's what's important to them right now, then we might want to rethink what we're doing and how we're doing it." "

6/19/2009 9:18:17 AM

Supporters want Jim Black released early http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1579669.html

Quote :

"Black was the biggest catch in a web of corruption probes that snared several fellow Democrats. Former U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance, former Agriculture Secretary Meg Scott Phipps, former state Rep. Mike Decker and lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings all went to prison."

6/23/2009 9:07:34 AM

http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1584084.html


So Perdue appointed Randy Ramsey, CEO of Jarret Bay Yacht Sales, to our board of trustees...

Quote :

"Randy Ramsey is Jarrett Bay Yacht Sales' Chairman, and is primarily responsible for overseeing the company's day-to-day operations. Randy and Dan Reitz founded the company in April 2003 and are the dealer principals in the organization. Randy is also the Founder and President of Jarrett Bay Boatworks. He has been involved in almost every aspect of the boating and fishing industries throughout his life-from running a charter fishing operation to founding the Harker's Island Sportfishing School, from building boats for Harris Boat Works to marine surveying for various underwriters, from becoming a licensed Coast Guard captain and yacht broker to running the world's leading custom boat manufacturing & service facility. Randy lives in Carteret County and has one son, Alan. He is a very active member of numerous local & regional boards. Most notably, Randy has served on the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament's Board since 1983, serving as president in 2003 & 2004. He also serves on the board of the North Carolina Manufacturer's Association & the North Carolina State University Student Aid Association, among many others. "

I'm all about putting successful businessmen that know how to run something in charge, but man does she have to pull someone from Carteret/Craven County for EVERYTHING?

[Edited on June 26, 2009 at 11:03 AM. Reason : .]

6/26/2009 11:03:03 AM

Randy is one of us.

I have no problem with this.

6/26/2009 12:25:11 PM

sex tape?
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/06/28/2009-06-28_aides_tale_of_john_edwards_sex_tape.html


Former Edwards aide Andrew Young says the ex-senator and his former mistress, Rielle Hunter, once made a sex tape, according to someone who has seen Young’s book proposal.

6/29/2009 2:39:29 PM

Mary Easley is going to take her termination to court http://www.newsobserver.com/executive_privilege/story/1589069.html



I'd be angry but I'm not surprised. This fiasco should fall on Erskine Bowles' head.

6/30/2009 8:10:23 AM

Bar accuses Mackey of not paying taxes

Quote :

"In a rare and wide-ranging complaint, the N.C. State Bar has accused state Rep. Nick Mackey of “criminal acts” for failing to file four years of state and federal income tax returns. The bar also accused him of unprofessional conduct. Among other things, it claims that Mackey failed to disclose that he was twice suspended as a Charlotte police officer, once for allegedly lying to a police review board. The allegations, spelled out in seven-page bar complaint made public Tuesday, could lead to the Charlotte lawyer's suspension or even disbarment. It's unclear whether Mackey, a Democrat, could also face criminal charges. contd "

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/597/story/369927.html

7/30/2009 10:38:08 AM

More about Easley's sister in law http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1643739.html

Dempsey Benton created a cush job for Patsy Christian, the "director of a state mental hospital in June 2008 after reports that she spent money intended to help patients to commission an oil painting of herself." http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1640961.html

6 months of paid leave ($104k) to Beverly Washington Jones when left job of Provost of NC Central to go back to teaching. But she didn't go back, she retired. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1640060.html

Going along with that http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1640046.html more paid leave for admins, worth $8 million.

8/12/2009 8:52:30 AM

http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1698857.html



Ty Harrell steps down from House seat
The Raleigh Democrat cites family issues and questions about his campaign finances.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1662404.html



Soles' case in friend's hands
DA says he sees no conflict

Quote :

"RALEIGH -- At his federal corruption trial in 1983, state Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. was accused of buying votes for the prosecutor who will now decide whether to file criminal charges against the senator in a shooting. Soles was cleared in that case, but his friendship and political alliance with Rex Gore, the district attorney for Columbus, Bladen and Brunswick counties, has continued through the intervening decades. Campaign finance records show the fellow Democrats and lawyers have frequently contributed to each other's campaigns. "In a small district, you're going to be prosecuting people you know, your friends, your neighbors," Gore said Tuesday. "As it relates to a conflict of interests, there is, in my opinion, no conflict of interests. We're going to do the right thing in this case." Soles' attorney said he acted in self-defense at his Tabor City home Sunday when he shot a former legal client in the leg. The man, Thomas Kyle Blackburn, 22, was not seriously injured. A member of the legislature since 1969, Soles is a revered figure in Columbus County for his ability to bring state money and government jobs to a struggling district. The SBI opened an investigation this month after Stacey Scott, a former law client of Soles, claimed in a televised interview that the senator fondled him when Scott was 15. Scott later recanted, saying he was high on drugs when he made the abuse allegation. The SBI is now investigating the shooting. Soles, 74, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Nor could Joe Cheshire, the Raleigh lawyer representing Soles in the shooting investigation...... "

9/21/2009 10:19:16 AM

shouldn't this thread be titled "Vote GOP, the only party for morality and America" or something?

Cause if you weren't a partisan hack, you probably would have make the thread "Crooked NC Politicians", no?

9/21/2009 12:29:21 PM

^ Oh, the NC Dems have had more than their fair share the last few years.



Who, me?

9/21/2009 12:46:26 PM

^^^That picture from the N&O looks like he fixed bald spots w/ MS Paint.

Quote :

"shouldn't this thread be titled "Vote GOP, the only party for morality and America" or something?"

This mentality is what bothers me. Instead of reading these articles or refuting any evidence, you squeal "he's a hack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

PLEASE make a Crooked NC Republicans thread.

9/21/2009 2:08:58 PM

^ PinkandBlack has never made a thread that was worth a damn. He just wants to tell everyone else how to post.

9/21/2009 2:21:45 PM

This is from the TV show NC SPIN (I don't have a link yet):

Feds Descend on Treasurer's Office
September 24, 2009 4:38 pm

Quote :

"Early this morning federal agents descended on the office of State Treasurer demanding documents that might assist them in a federal investigation. According to reliable sources the investigation centers around at least one highly placed Treasury officials who making paid speeches to organizations that managed state investment funds. If true, this would be a blatant pay-to-play scenario. We are told State Treasurer Janet Cowell was out of town at the time of the so-called 'document drop' but sources also say she may not be the focus of the investigation. Pundits are wondering whether or not this might have had something to do with the sudden departure of the chief investment officer for the state? Judging from the large volume of documents we understand were requested it might be some time before we get the full story but this is another potential scandal in the making."

Developing. . . .

9/24/2009 4:59:15 PM