Five people defended Meredith Norris before the Real Estate Commission.
Charlotte Regional Partnership CEO Ronnie Bryant, Prevent Blindness North Carolina President Jennifer Talbot, real estate developer Scott Hallihan and friends Tracy Parker Vollmer and D. Lawrence Bivins wrote letters on her behalf.
Several argued that her guilty plea to a misdemeanor lobbying law violation came about because of political agendas.
Bryant wrote that Norris' lobbying was "hard to get past for those who were on a mission to defeat" then-Speaker Jim Black. Bivins said "politically inspired legal and media attacks" were "part of an epic power struggle with which she had little to do."
Hallihan said it was a "minor offense" and argued "it would be tragic to allow media hype and speculation" to keep her from making a living in an unrelated industry.
And Vollmer said Norris was "swept up in an ugly political vacuum."
More after the jump.
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The letter-writers also gave general character references.
Talbot noted that Norris "made a positive and lasting impression" as a volunteer doing community service hours required as part of her probation. Vollmer said she was "hard working, responsive, conscientious, ethical" and a "reliable business contact."
Bivins added that she is a "dutiful daughter," a "responsible pet-owner and animal-lover" who once climbed a tree to help a baby bird.
