newsobserver.com projects - SEANC takes case to the papers - Comments

Re: SEANC takes case to the papers

motoman54 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:00:17 -0500

As a dues paying SEANC member and EMPAC contributor I was wondering if any other SEANC members, Retirees and or State Employees might have some of the same questions that I have concerning the recently filed law suit by SEANC directed toward the NC Treasure’s Office regarding public records and the full page ad that SEANC ran. Since the SEANC Blog has been removed and there is no SEANC intra e-mail system available to reach the rank and file members it is difficult to communicate with other SEANC members for their opinions. I believe that this SEANC leadership has stated their position, I just wanted to here from the people they represent. I will include my e-mail address at the end of the question list. Please be respectful in your replies.

1) Let’s say the SEANC 12 get all of the documents they are looking for. How will they use them to better protect the NC retirements funds?
2) Do we still have the second strongest retirement fund in the nation?
3) Under the current Treasurer’s care how much has the investment strategies returned or lost?
4) How much has the Treasurer paid investment firms to reap these gains or losses?
5) How much did the SEANC 12 spend to run this ad? I have read estaments ranging from $16,000 to $37,000. If so; this would have made a great payment on the $600,000 SEANC mortgage or to help build up the SEANC reserve account. Can the members see the invoices?
6) How much will the law suit cost? Who is going to pay for the law suit?
7) Since the current Treasurer is running for Governor shouldn’t all campaign donations be recorded with the Board of Election?
8) Has any laws been violated by Treasures office that might put our retirement funds at risk?
9) Does anyone else believe this may be politically motivated or is it a coincident that the ad came out on the same day the Lieutenant Governor made her bid for Governor official?

I have not seen the answers to all of these questions on the SEANC web page.

http://www.seanc.org

I may have missed them. I will keep on looking for them until I find them.

Sincerely,
Bob Hite SEANC District # 3 member
e-mail = seanc_d3_bobhite@yahoo.com

Re: SEANC takes case to the papers

liam — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:48:41 -0500

I've been watching Perdue amass this laundry list of endorsements over the last months thinking to myself, do any of these have any effect at all? Unless these guys start breaking out their wallets, CWA in particular, I don't think all the time and energy spent cultivating these groups will pay off for Perdue.

Although, this action by the State Employees makes me think twice. $7,000 isn't much in this race, but it indicates a willingness to spend which should make Moore's campaign nervous.

SEANC takes case to the papers

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:09:53 -0500

The State Employees Association of North Carolina is running ads against Richard Moore.

The group, which represents 55,000 state workers, ran a full-page ad in the News & Observer, the Charlotte Observer and the Asheville Citizen-Times today.

"State employees to Treasurer Richard Moore: Where are our pension fund documents?" the ad reads. It is signed by all 12 members of the executive committee.

The ad references a recent fight that SEANC has had with the Democratic gubernatorial candidate over a public records request. The group has also filed a lawsuit against Moore's office.

Erica Baldwin, SEANC's assistant director of communications, said that it was the first time in recent memory that the group had taken out such a large ad, but she said it has nothing to do with the ongoing Democratic gubernatorial primary.

"It's not a political statement at all, but a statement about public accountability," she said.

A full-page ad in the front section of the N&O on a Wednesday for a political organization would cost around $7,800, according to this rate card. It could be as much as $10,900 for the Asheville Citizen-Times, according to this rate card. A full-page ad in the Charlotte Observer would cost from $9,855 to $37,125.

Amanda Martin, general counsel for the N.C. Press Association, said it was an unusual move.

"I have never known of a public records requester bolstering his or her request by an ad in the newspaper or anywhere else," she said.

Update: A spokeswoman for the treasurer's office said in a statement that the ad is incorrect.

"We are disappointed by this move by SEANC, as the Department of State Treasurer has followed both the spirit and the letter of the law in providing documents requested by SEANC," said Sara Lang.

Document(s):
seanc-ad.pdf