newsobserver.com projects - Sewell among guests at Mansion - Comments

Re: Sewell at Mansion-Political Payback?

concerned53 — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:24:40 -0400

Sewell must have done an incredible amount to support the Governor, both above and perhaps under the table for her to still invite him to the mansion. In the spirit of openness that Perdue is professing, Kochman should back up his words that citizens besides those that contributed big dollars to the Governor's campaign have gotten access to her. Show us the list that attended on the 30th as I don't trust Kochman's words.

Re: Sewell among guests at Mansion

WilmingtonDemocrat — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:39:51 -0400

I'm glad the Governor is meeting some of her political supporters. Most of the people who raise money for campaigns are succesful businessman who create jobs, contribute civically and are leaders of their various communities.

Do you really want the Governor to only be exposed to state government workers who live off the state payroll or campaign hacks?

Re: Sewell among guests at Mansion

tangoz — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:16:05 -0400

Is Perdue really this arrogant? Or just corrupt?

Sure

PoliticalJunkie — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:12:58 -0400

You can believe anything Kochman says.

Sewell among guests at Mansion

bkrueger — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:48:48 -0400

Gov. Beverly Perdue opened the doors of the Executive Mansion to some of her political supporters last week.

Among the invitees was a former Board of Transportation member who had made Perdue's path to the state's top job a bit more arduous, reports Dan Kane.

Louis W. Sewell Jr., a Perdue fundraiser, resigned from the board last fall after The News & Observer reported that in two instances Sewell had advocated for road projects near businesses that he or his son co-owned. He said in both cases he was not trying to enhance his property, but remedy road problems that were affecting general traffic.

Days after the report (and just before Sewell resigned), Perdue was unclear about whether she would attend a fundraiser Sewell was throwing on her behalf in Jacksonville.

When asked if she would reappoint Sewell to the board, Perdue said, "Lord have mercy. I'm trying to win the governor's race."

Sewell cancelled the fundraiser and resigned from the transportation board shortly after that.

Perdue has since changed board operations so that members can not approve road building contracts.

David Kochman, Perdue's communications director, declined to identify all of the roughly 25 people who attended the meeting on March 30. But he confirmed that Sewell and Lanny Wilson of Wilmington, another Board of Transportation member, were there.

More after the jump.