newsobserver.com projects - Claims Dept: Perdue on Moore and Parton - Comments

Re: Claims Dept: Perdue on Moore and Parton

disantor — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:52:36 -0500

Insane, I know. The Commission approved funding the theater -- 21.5 million dollars -- without having access to information that Moore had on the (questionable) feasibility of the project to generate enough revenue. It doesn't pass the "red face test" when Moore claims this was out of scope and they didn't need to consider the feasibility study -- just ability to pay! Duh - well, ability to pay -- doesn't that hinge upon... ummm... FEASIBILITY of the project?!! The dome pundits have missed the boat on this one.

Exactly

Anglico — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:37:16 -0500

Leave it to the Dome to miss the point of the whole debate. This isn't about the merits of the study or the criteria the LGC used. It's about full disclosure of information. The N&O's conclusion that the Perdue is "over-reaching" is absurd. The proper conclusion would have been: Moore is "under-delivering."

Re: Claims Dept: Perdue on Moore and Parton

bluescorpio — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:52:29 -0500

Hi, I'm a long-time Dome reader, but this is my first comment.

So, explain something to me here. How can commission members be expected to fairly "decide whether the project has a good chance of success", if they haven't seen the results of the feasibility study? Wasn't it Mr. Moore's responsibility as head of the commission to fully disclose everything he knew about this, so that the decision could be made after ALL facts were considered? Why didn't he?

Re: Claims Dept: Perdue on Moore and Parton

twoshadesofblue — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:38:02 -0500

So Moore's office has the feasibility study and doesn't share it? Disgraceful...

Claims Dept: Perdue on Moore and Parton

bniolet — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:02:59 -0500

The claim: In recent weeks, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue’s campaign has claimed in news releases, its Web site and in a YouTube video that State Treasurer Richard Moore is responsible for the financial problems of an entertainment complex in Roanoke Rapids.

Moore and Perdue are both running for governor. The Perdue campaign also has claimed that Moore withheld a study that said the city’s plans for a theater featuring Randy Parton would fail without other attractions and that he failed to properly scrutinize the project.

The background: Since the city opened the $21.5 million theater, ticket sales have been paltry, questions have been raised about how Parton spent public money and Parton has been banned from the theater bearing his name. The amenities, such as a hotel and restaurants, called for in a feasibility study are not yet open.

What we found: As state treasurer, Moore is chairman of the Local Government Commission. The panel must approve all public debt in North Carolina.

The Local Government Commission was created in the Depression era when several North Carolina towns had overloaded themselves with debt. The commission has focused on narrow questions of whether a city or county could afford to pay back the money it intended to borrow. It has not questioned the wisdom of the city or county’s plans.

"They’ve never second-guessed saying, 'Are you sure this is a good deal?'" said David Lawrence, professor at the School of Government at UNC-Chapel Hill.

More after the jump.