Triadwatch Has Some New Friends in the Fight for Campaign Contribution Transparency in Guilford County

Triadwatch has learned tonight that there is help in trying to clean up these campaign contribution returns turned in to the Guilford County Board of Elections from reading the Yes Weekly Blog CLICKHERE or click on the title above with a title "Did Mary Rakestraw violate campaign finance law?"



The new political action committee called Stand Up Greensboro CLICKHERE has filed a letter of inquiry in to the campaign contributions of Mary Rakestraw from 2007 in her successful campaign for a seat on the Greensboro City Council.



Andrew Murphy from the Stand Up Greensboro PAC had this to say in post


"Murphy notes that the Committee for Mary Rakestraw did not report the names, addresses, occupations and employers of 13 contributors who wrote $100 checks to the candidate. The Rakestraw committee’s 2007 year-end semi-annual report lists the $100 checks on a form reserved for aggregate individual contributions that explicitly states “optional form used to report NC contributions from individuals of $50 or less.”



Now it seems like more people are becoming aware of plenty of local politicians who are not reporting their campaign contributions correctly. In last year's elections there was plenty of talk about Guilford County Commissioner Paul Gibson who left nearly 50% of his forms empty CLICKHERE. Also candidate Larry Proctor was very lax in his reporting as well CLICKHERE

Where is George Gilbert the Director of the Guilford County Board of Elections on these issues?

The time has come for all of these local politicians in Guilford County to start to be held accountable for their actions and if it takes citizens to write letters of inquiry to the State Board of Elections please do . If you want to see a lot of the local politicians and their campaign contributions CLICKHERE and if you see any discrepencies in their campaign return forms please let Triadwatch know and will see if there is any violation of campaign law.

Transparency in North Carolina Government from Governor Perdue

HAT TIP : Mark Binker Capital Beat CLICKHERE

Press Release
Gov. Perdue Launches NCOpenBook.gov
3/30/2009
Raleigh, NC

Raleigh - Gov. Bev Perdue today launched the first wave of NCOpenBook.gov, a government transparency website for searching state contracts and grants.

Gov. Perdue signed Executive Order No. 4 on January 12, her first day in office, ordering the creation of NC OpenBook.

“In the 21st century online accessibility and transparency should be the standard for public information,” Perdue said. “We’re going to let the sun shine in on state contracts.”

NCOpenBook.gov provides a database of approximately 2,500 state contracts and 5,000 grants that are now available in a searchable format. The Office of State Budget and Management is working with state agencies and departments to streamline their contract databases so that North Carolina will have a comprehensive searchable database online this year on NC OpenBook.

In addition to state contracts and grants, NCOpenBook.gov will feature detailed information about state agency performance measures and planning as outlined in Executive Order No. 3.

______________________________________________________

Let's hope there is more sunshine on the state level when it comes to transparency in North Carolina government and the next step is to get the sunshine on all e-mail correspondence of state workers and politicians as well.

N.C. Senator Burr Time To Support Campaign Disclosure Parity Act

Here's an opportunity for North Carolina U.S. Senator Richard Burr , to increase government transparency while saving taxpayer money, paper and time, to boot. They should sponsor the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act (SB482) CLICKHERE or click on the title above , which would require senators to do like members of North Carolinas' House delegation already do - file their campaign finance reports in electronic format.

Federal election law requires candidates for president and the House of Representatives to electronically file lists of their donors and expenses. Not so for U.S. senators, despite the fact they keep this information in this format at their campaign offices.

Instead, senators file paper reports of their campaign disclosures with the Senate Office of Public Records, which in turn has them shipped to the Federal Election Commission, which must then spend about $250,000 and untold hours having the records typed in, line by line, to the FEC's databases.

Most important, campaign finance disclosure is central to accountability. The public should know who is funding its senators' election campaigns.

This laborious process also wastes paper. Last year alone, the 340,000 pages submitted by Senate candidates and party committees used six tons of the stuff. In the process of harvesting those trees, paper manufacturers will emit as much sulfur dioxide as eight 18-wheeler trucks and emit as much asthma-causing particulates as two buses, according to Environmental Defense Fund's paper calculator (www.edf.org/papercalculator/).

The Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act, now pending in Congress, is the solution to this simple problem. The commonsense legislation, which has been languishing for several years, would bring the technology-averse Senate into modern times by requiring Senate campaigns to file their campaign reports electronically, like their counterparts seeking election to the House and the White House. This would result in timelier uploading of data by the FEC. In the past, when this legislation has been offered, Republican senators have used various parliamentary maneuvers to stop it. This time, North Carolina Senator Richard Burr should show leadership, cosponsor the bill and oppose any and all efforts to stall it.

In this Internet day and age, the public justifiably is accustomed to getting information quickly and easily. There's no reason to rely on an outmoded, expensive, wasteful Senate disclosure system. It's time for the Senate to step into the new age and agree to file campaign finance reports electronically.

Ellen S. Miller is the cofounder and executive director of the Sunlight Foundation, a Washington-based, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of the Internet to catalyze greater government openness and transparency.

Ellen S. Miller

Sunlight Foundation CLICKHERE

E-mail:

emiller@sunlightfoundation.com.

_______________________________________________________

To reach Senator Richard Burr CLICKHERE

and please let them know how the phone call went or to e-mail them here is the link below,

Senator Richard Burr CLICKHERE

UPDATE:
Senator Kay Hagan has co sponsored this bill on March 24, 2009

S . 482
At the request of Mr. FEINGOLD, the name of the Senator from North Carolina (Mrs. HAGAN) was added as a cosponsor of S . 482 , a bill to require Senate candidates to file designations, statements, and reports in electronic form.

Greensboro City Council Members Barber and Wade Didn't Know About Their Own Paid State Lobbyist, Amazing

While reading the Rhino Times there was a front page article titled "Amorphous City Wish List Kept From Senate", CLICKHERE to read the article.

At the end of the article there was some very interesting revelations from Greensboro City Council member Mike Barber. Below is what was said in the article.

"In asking about the stimulus project list Barber mentioned that he had discovered that Greensboro has a paid lobbyist in Raleigh.

The lobbyist for the City of Greensboro is Cam Cover with the law firm Brooks Pierce. It would be interesting to know what she is lobbying for because Barber and Councilmember Trudy Wade said they were surprised to find that Greensboro had hired a lobbyist.

It seems that with seven Greensboro residents in the legislature, Greensboro wouldn't need to pay a lobbyist. Especially when you consider that four of those legislators have served on the Greensboro City Council.The Greensboro City Council is going to be looking for places to reduce spending this year, and cutting out a lobbyist that councilmembers don't even know about should be near the top of the list."

Well look no further than what was posted about this relationship here on TRIADWATCH back on September 6, 2008 CLICKHERE with a title "City of Greensboro + $125 an Hour Lobbyist + Brooks Pierce Law Firm = Conflicts of Interest."

If these Greensboro City Council members want to cut money from the budget this would be a great one to do with in 2007 it was over $40,000 billed to the city of Greensboro from Brooks Pierce Law Firm. If you would like to see what the law firm is actually billing click on the title in the post from September 6, 2008.

It is hard to believe that the Greensboro City Council members didn't know that they had a paid lobbyist on the state level. There are a lot of conflicts of interest about this issue that need to be either done away with or talked about as a council.

You can also add that the City of Greensboro already pays handsomely to the League of Municipalities who are as close to being a lobbyist firm as they come because once they have concerns with a bill it will get watered down to practically nothing.How much does Greensboro pay them?

Greensboro City Council Member Mike Barber you might want to check out this post on TRIADWATCH as well CLICKHERE with a title "Brooks Pierce Law Firm + Greensboro City = $72,909.64 PAYDAY".This bill was in your attachments for the October 7, 2008 meeting.

Let me also add another tidbit to this talk on paid lobbyist on the state level. There is a lawyer in town by the name of Derek Allen who happens to come up in front of Greensboro City Council plenty of times for zoning cases . His law firm is guess who Brooks Pierce Law Firm . If you dig a little deeper it shows that he was the paid lobbyist for the City of Greensboro a few years ago, isn't that a cozy relationship for him and his firm. Nice circle of friends.

NEWSBUSTED on TRIADWATCH for 3/24/2009 The Backlash Over AIG Bonuses

Newsbusted is new for 3-24-2009 to see the video click on video above or click on the title above.

Topics in today's show: The backlash over AIG bonuses, President Obama appears on Jay Leno, President Obama would defeate Sarah Palin if the election where held today, and President Obama makes a Special Olympics joke.
Love the show?

Then help spread the word by embedding it on your blog or telling your friends on Myspace and Facebook.

Think you're funny?

Send your (short) jokes to newsbusted at dialognewmedia.com. If we use them, we'll pay you USD $50 for each one.

Starring: Jodi Miller
Director: Bruce Roundtower
Executive Producer: Matthew Sheffield

Don't Forget To Check Off Box on N.C. State Tax Forms for Public Financing

Say yes to reform

The news has been rife with reports of immense amounts of money being directed at candidates by special-interest groups in elections across the country.
Luckily, here in North Carolina, we have an alternative “voter-owned elections” program that is a national model for reform. Taxpayers should be sure to check "Yes" in the box on their state income tax returns where it offers the choice to divert $3 to the N.C. Public Campaign Fund. This fund helps to fund judicial candidates who accept strict fundraising and spending limits and refuse to accept money from special-interest groups. It also makes available a useful Voter Guide about candidates and voting. Saying "Yes" does not increase your tax nor does it reduce your refund.

The fund gives us a better option, at least in election of judicial candidates, by making "clean" campaign money available to them if they accept strict fundraising limits.

Greensboro District #4 Candidate Teresa Jobe has a Web Site

Greensboro City Council Member Mike Barber has some new competition in District #4 in Teresa Jobe who has a new campaign web site CLICKHERE or click on the title above.

Who Would Have Thunk It, Greensboro Votes 7-1 for Ethics on Local Level

At the Greensboro City Council Meeting on March 17, 2009 during the end of the meeting item #31 is called Addendum.There was a resolution brought to the attention of the council that has to deal with having state ethics laws brought to the local and county level.(HAT TIP YES WEEKLY) on their blog CLICKHERE

Here is the link to the video at around the 1:55 mark on CLICKHERE then proceed to March 17, 2009 video.

Greensboro City Attorney Terry Wood had this to say" This is put on as a request from a council member. This is a state ethics act that covers state commissions and boards it is very extensive and includes filling out forms acknowledging the different various types of ownership, and any interest you have in the property you own. In other words a full disclosure and the purpose of it is to keep, to prevent conflicts of interest. At least what our legislature perceives as conflicts of interest.And this is an act that is pending in the legislature now. House Bill #287 CLICKHERE or click on the title above and if you adopt a resolution it would be to acknowledge support for that resolution. You of course can't enact it , that's a state wide law.That's the purpose of it. "

Then the Mayor Johnson's talks about going to speak to a group of people and accepting a potted plant or some flowers and how the mayor does accept these gifts.She then asked the City Attorney is that proper or improper and He said under this bill it would be improper. There are over five pages of what you can and cannot do and the city attorney then said the best thing to do is not accept gifts at all.

Then the ethically challenged Greensboro City Council member Robbie " Pave It " Perkins had this to say,"These days it is hard to vote against a ethics law. I think that being said the debate at the legislature is going to be very interesting to watch. Because the legislature has imposed these ethics rules on themselves.Largely as a result of the problems that they had with

ex-DEMOCRAT speaker Jim Black. They have imposed these laws and found them unwieldly and have been modify it ever since.So the debate as I understand it from talking today to some of the house members is do they want to take a step further and impose it on all of the municipal officials in the state.Because they are already under it.Good arguments on both sides. We should support it and move on."

Who would have thunk that Robbie 'Pave It " Perkins would be all over passing a resolution in support of this ethics bill but as you heard above they have found the ethics laws unwielding and are modifying the law to this day. So if you can read into that statement then the League of Municipalities are going to water down this ethics law to practically nothing. If you want to see what a ethically challenged city council member is then CLICKHERE or CLICKHERE

It would be nice to know which Greensboro City Council member actually brought this up as an addendum because the city attorney only said a city council member brought this up without naming a name. Who wants to guess who it was? We can take one very ethically challenged Greensboro City Council member out of the guessing game because when it was time to vote on this resolution in support of bringing ethics to the local and county level the vote was 7-1 with T Dianne Bellamy Small"TDBS" voting NO. How could you not be for ethics on the local level of city and county politics as the mayor had said but TDBS sure doesn't want any part of ethics and her past history has shown that. Can anyone say polygraph test.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE , Tony Wilkins has answered my question above here is the link CLICKHERE. Thanks Tony

Even before this was brought up in front of Greensboro City Council,

Joe Guarino had posted this on his blog CLICKHERE with a title "Ethics Laws and Local Elected Officials" .

This law is much needed on the local level and it is time to let your state legislators know that you are in support of this bill. All you would need to do is say to your state representatives " Bring Ethics to the Local Level Support House Bill #287". If you want to e-mail your state representative here is the link

CLICKHERE for House

CLICKHERE for Senate

NEWSBUSTED on TRIADWATCH for 3/17/2009 Madoff Might Have A Position in President Obama's Cabinet

Newsbusted is new for 3-17-09 click on the video above.

Topics in today's show: Bernie Madoff pleads guilty to fraud charges, Jon Stewart takes on Jim Cramer, John Mayer and Jennifer Anniston break up again, and Sesame Street lays off workers.

N.C. Voters for Clean Elections with a BIll to END CANDIDATE RELIANCE ON SPECIAL INTEREST FUNDING

Here is a press release that Chase Foster from the North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections sent out yesterday you can see their web site CLICKHERE .

N.C. Voters for Clean Elections
PRESS RELEASE
March 12, 2009
Contact: Rep. Rick Glazier, 919-733-5601;
Chase Foster, NCVCE Director, 919-521-4121

BILL WOULD EXPAND SUCCESSFUL COUNCIL OF STATE PROGRAM, END CANDIDATE RELIANCE ON SPECIAL INTEREST FUNDING

Candidates running for State Treasurer and Commissioner of Labor could soon stop raising money from regulated groups and special interests if a bill being filed today becomes law.

Rep. Rick Glazier (D-Cumberland), Rep. Deborah Ross (D-Wake), Rep. Grier Martin (D-Wake), and Rep. Ray Rapp (D-Madison) are filing a bill today that would expand the state’s Voter-Owned Elections program to five additional statewide executive offices. The bill has 53 total sponsors.

A program that gained bipartisan participation in 2008 already offers a public financing option for candidates for State Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Commissioner of Insurance. This proposed legislation would expand the program to include candidates for Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Commissioner of Labor.

State Treasurer Janet Cowell said she supports the legislation because it would allow candidates for State Treasurer to realistically run without relying on contributions from regulated groups.

“Public financing is a proven reform that gives voters more control over government, makes public officials more accountable to constituents and levels the playing field,” Cowell said. “It also allows for greater transparency and avoids the appearance of conflicts of interest.”

Commissioner of Insurance Wayne Goodwin also endorsed the legislation, saying that the program had been a boon to grassroots campaigning in his race this past year. “It allowed me to spend more time listening to voters at courthouses and barbecue joints and festivals and senior centers all along the campaign trail,” he said. “The program should be expanded, so that those offices can benefit from a return to grassroots democracy as well.”

State Auditor Beth Wood said she supports the Voter-Owned Elections legislation, citing its ability to increase the diversity of candidates running for office. “This program opens the door for all qualified candidates to run for office,” she said. “Elections should be about your community support, not about your ability to raise money.”

And Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson also praised the bill, calling the program’s voter guide—which would include profiles of all statewide office seekers and be mailed to millions of North Carolina households—a boon for voter engagement. “It allows us to put our qualifications directly in front of the voters, without having to rely on other media forms,” she said. “This way voters can make an informed choice about which candidates to support for these important offices.”

Under Voter-Owned Elections, candidates are able to receive a public grant to finance their campaign if they demonstrate broad community support and agree to strict spending and fundraising limits. Candidates who participate in the Council of State program are barred from most PAC money, out-of-state donations, and contributions over $200, and are not allowed to fundraise during the six months prior to the general election.

Rep. Glazier said the Council of State pilot succeeded beyond people’s expectations in last year’s election, dramatically reducing the fundraising role of special interest groups and allowing a diverse group of candidates to run without relying on large checks or special interest groups. “We want to build on this success and allow other offices to experience this program’s benefit,” he said. “Candidates should be able to run for Commissioner of Labor or Insurance without relying on money from the industries those offices regulate.”
In recent years, the Council of State has been dogged by the perception that its officeholders have been unduly influenced by their campaign donors. But reform organizations say public campaign financing is helping to change that perception. A report conducted by NC Voters for Clean Elections found that in 2004 66% of then-Commissioner of Insurance Jim Long’s itemized campaign money came from industries regulated directly by the insurance department. In 2008, this number dropped to less than 5% of the campaign money received by current-Commissioner of Insurance Wayne Goodwin, reflecting a stark change in the race’s money dynamic.

According to the 2008 Commissioner of Insurance candidates, the Voter-Owned Elections altered the culture and climate of the insurance race as well, with 22 one-on-one debates and a near level playing field when it came to campaign spending. John Odom the Republican nominee and Wayne Goodwin, the Democratic nominee wrote a joint guest column together a few weeks before the November election, saying the program allowed them to spend more time with voters and better prepare themselves for service.

“Every day we know there’s no need to schmooze with powerful industry leaders and VIPs,” they wrote for the Fayetteville Observer. “Every day we are relieved by the knowledge that we can spend the entire day listening to voters and serving the people of North Carolina.”

Glazier said he is confident that the legislation would prove valuable for the rest of the Council of State. “By removing even the perception of a conflict of interest, this program increases public confidence in government.”
###
---
Chase Foster
Director, NC Voters for Clean Elections
(919)521-4121chase@ncvce.org
http://www.ncvce.org/

Resolution on Ethical Principles in Land Use and Transportation Planning in N.C.

RESOLUTION ON ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN LAND-USE AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IN NORTH CAROLINA


WHEREAS, the intent of the State Government Ethics Act is to “further the public, not private or personal interest and to maintain the public trust of the citizens of North Carolina, and it is essential that government function honestly and fairly, free from all forms of impropriety and undue influence; and acceptance of authority granted by the people to elected and appointed officials imposes a commitment of fidelity to the public interest and such power cannot be used to advance narrow interest for oneself, other persons or groups; and self interest, partiality, and prejudice have no place in decision making for the public”. And “officials must be prepared to remove themselves immediately from decisions, votes or processes where even the appearance of a conflict of interest exists”; and

WHEREAS, the State Government Ethics Act does not cover local elected and appointed officials, yet these officials may have personal development interests, hold positions on multiple decision-making boards, and exercise great authority over private and public development, including the use of eminent domain to seize private property; and

WHEREAS, most county and municipal governments do not have ethics or conflicts of interest policies for elected and appointed officials; and

WHEREAS, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs), planning and zoning boards and committees, Transportation Advisory Committees (TACs) and Technical Coordinating Committees (TCCs) and other entities involved in transportation and land-use planning are not subject to ethical principles and do not function with transparency and accountability to the people or abide by a set of ethical guidelines (e.g. Ethical Principles of the American Planning Association); and

WHEREAS, as an example of the need for local codes of ethical conduct is the formation of a Regional Transportation Authority in the Triad. In 1997, the NC General Assembly passed Article 27, GS160A authorizing formation of a Regional Transportation Authority. The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) and the Piedmont International Airport Authority (PTIA) that began as an oversight group for the airport, have both evolved into facilitators for land-use and economic development. PTIA is promoting the “Aerotropolis” concept, described as “a powerful engine of economic development” and PART has come under scrutiny for coordinating the “Heart of the Triad” effort as a result of corporate appeal. Significantly, both Authorities have used eminent domain, yet they are not subject to an ethical code; and

WHEREAS, in another example, Session Law 2008-164 H-2318 authorizes the NC Department of Transportation to enter into private partnership agreements for construction of transportation infrastructure but it does not define an ethical standard for the development and implementation of these agreements; and

WHEREAS, the undue influence of property developers, corporate interests and a lack of transparency and accountability in land-use and transportation planning is not representative of the population at large and diminishes the public trust and threatens private property rights, agricultural vitality and environmental stability of North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, financial systems and democratic government are ultimately based on trust of the administrators, and clearly can and will collapse when administered by avaricious, unethical individuals.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the North Carolina Alliance for Transportation Reform (NCATR) meeting on January 19, 2009 urges the Executive and Legislative branches of state government to modify the State Government Ethics Act to cover all local elected and appointed officials, as well as all boards, committees and entities with authority over land-use and transportation planning decisions. Alternatively, we urge the Executive and Legislative branches to enact a statute to require all such local officials and organizations to create local codes of ethical conduct that address conflict of interest issues and include rigorous enforcement provisions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this ethical policy includes planners for roads or transportation projects constructed through any public/private partnership arrangement (such as under provisions of H-2318), or through any arrangement where public funds are used.


SIGNATURE______ON_FILE___________________________________________________

PRINTED NAME___Cathy_M._Poole____________________________________________________

TITLE_Chairperson_Ethics_Committee_NC_Alliance_for_Transportation_Reform

DATE_February_11, 2009____________________________________________________

Sent To:
Governor Beverly Perdue
Secretary, North Carolina Department of Transportation
NC General Assembly

Senate Bill #415 Will Make Greensboro City Attorney Be Under City Council

State Senator Katie Dorsett on March 5 2009 introduced Senate Bill #415 , to see the bill click on the title above. or see the bill below

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO REGARDING

APPOINTMENT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1. Section 4.21 of the Charter of the City of Greensboro, being Chapter
1137 of the Session Laws of 1959, reads as rewritten:

"Sec. 4.21. City Attorney; Appointment, Compensation, Powers, and Duties.

(a) The city council shall appoint the city attorney who shall hold office at the pleasure
of the city council and shall receive such compensation as it may fix.
(b) The city attorney shall (1) serve as legal advisor to the city council, the city manager
and all city departments, officers and agencies; (2) represent as counsel the city, its officers,
agents, or employees, in any legal action arising out of or connected with the proper functions
of the city, its officers, agents, or employees, unless disqualified to so act; (3) approve as to
form all ordinances and resolutions, including initiated or referred ordinances, prior to their
introduction."

SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law.

_________________________________________________________


This bill will make the Greensboro City Attorney report to the Greensboro City Council not the Greensboro City Manager as the law stated.

Much debate has been talked from the Greensboro City Council who wanted to add this to the short session back in 2008 with City Council member Mike Barber and Councilwomen Goldie Wells having great debate on the pros and cons.Now it seems like a bill will be passed and the only other city left to change this rule would be the City of High Point.

Newsbusted is New for 3-10-2009 President Obama wants to Tax The Wealthy

Newsbusted is new for 3-10-09 click on the video above.

The topics in today's show President Obama wants to tax the wealthy --Chandra Levys murderer is an illegal alien --Jeopardy dedicates an entire category to Obama --Dakota Fanning turns 15 years old Starr...

N.C. Openbook will Track State Contracts and Grants

In the State of the State Address by Governor Perdue had this to say courtesy of mync.com CLICKHERE

"But, back to business. We will ensure that the recovery dollars are spent with maximum efficiency, transparency, and accountability. I have put a team together in my Office of Economic Recovery & Investment that will track every dollar.

With the click of a mouse, taxpayers can go to http://www.NCRecovery.gov and see details of our investments. You'll know where the money went, who got the contract, and when they completed the work. Soon, NC OpenBook will do the same for all state contracts and grants worth more than $10,000. This is taking care of the people's business, North Carolina style."

Will look forward to seeing those contracts and grants. This is a positive direction in the name of transparency. Hopefully more government actions will be taken to have more transparency because former Governor Easley sure did not help in that process.

Voter Fraud Down East in Early One Stop Voting in North Carolina

Hat Tip Red Clay Citizens CLICKHERE or click on the title above
with a link to the Fayetteville Observer CLICKHERE

It seems like a vote buying scheme was done during the one stop voting aspect of city council elections in Lumberton North Carolina back in 2007, here is a part of the story

"Leon Maynor, the incumbent, filed a complaint two weeks before the election claiming that the coupons were used to buy votes. Maynor said the coupons were given to those who would vote for challenger Laura Sampson during one-stop voting. The complaint alleged that the coupons offered a $5 discount redeemable at Huddle House on West Fifth Street in Lumberton."

$5.00 coupons to the Huddle House, priceless . But in Lumberton they can be used for a vote buying scheme.

The one aspect of this whole situation is to find out that the State Board of Elections has had this investigation since fall of 2007 and are now getting around to the findings, that is way too long.

It is now in the hands of the local District Attorney . It will be interesting to see if any charges will be handed down.

Letter to Governor Perdue for Ethical Reforms on the local level especially Guilford County

Cathy M. Poole, Chairperson
NC Alliance for Transportation Reform - Ethics Committee
1607A Squire Davis Road
Kernersville, N.C. 27284
Telephone: 336-869-0256
Email: CathyPoole@northstate.net


February 11, 2009



The Honorable Beverly E. Perdue
Office of the Governor
State of North Carolina
20301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, N.C. 27699-0301

Dear Governor Perdue:

It is evident from your first days as our Governor, that your Oath of Office is synonymous with the truths you hold dear. NC citizens across the state thank you and welcome your wise leadership promoting open and fair government processes.
Executive Order Number 2 “Reforming Department of Transportation” is excellent; however, unless ethical reform in transportation planning reaches local levels of elected and appointed officials as well, it will be undermined and inefficient. We cannot allow undue influence by property developers and corporate interests who have no accountability to the people and are subject to no ethical policies to control any level of the planning process.
Sam Hunt, former Secretary of North Carolina Department of Transportation said that the “Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) is the policy body guiding the transportation planning process”. When I recently questioned the ability of the TAC to over-rule the unanimous vote of the Guilford County Commissioners, my elected representatives, I was told that the “TAC is self-governed”.
Integration of transportation and land-use planning, supported by the Federal Highway Administration calls for Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Rural Planning Organizations, and transit agencies to maximize the effectiveness of public investments by collaboration, and (provisions of H-2318) provides for public/private partnerships, but these agencies and persons do not function with transparency and accountability or abide by enforceable ethical standards.
We believe the attached Resolution on Ethical Principles in Transportation Planning and Land-use in North Carolina, proposed by NC Alliance for Transportation Reform (NCATR), would greatly strengthen Executive Order Number 2 in accordance with Article XIV, Section 3 of our North Carolina Constitution. “General laws uniformly applicable throughout the State shall be made applicable without classification or exception in every unit of local government of like kind, such as every county, or every city and town”…
Very simply, our request is for modification of the State Government Ethics Act to specifically cover all elected officials, appointees, planning boards and individuals involved in transportation and land-use planning uniformly and throughout North Carolina.
Once again, I commend your efforts to reform the processes, efficiencies and priorities of the North Carolina Department of Transportation.


Respectfully,



Cathy M. Poole, Chairperson
NCATR - Ethics Committee






NC Alliance for Transportation Reform (NCATR) is a statewide grassroots organization involved in transportation reform issues across the state since 1992.