newsobserver.com projects - auditor - Comments

And we know the media is in the tank...

PoliticalJunkie — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:42:01 -0500

...for the Democrats. So we're in deep...

Re: Why U.S. attorney post matters

include_all — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:10:19 -0500

Yes, US Attorney positions do matter. As we offer suggestions for a potential pool of candidates for Kay Hagen to consider, let's add the name of Janice McKenzie Cole of Herford in the northestern corner of the state. She has a stellar background, including her service as a judge and a short stint as a US Attorney, before running for the Congress. She is a former "Tarheel of the Week."

In addition, since Senator-elect Hagen benefitted greatly from the multi-cultural votes of North Carolinians, the suggested pool should include the names of (1)qualified; (2)women; and (3)ethnic minority citizens. McKenzie-Cole fits each of these three groupings.

Questions raised about Bev's ethics

concerned53 — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:41:41 -0400

Friday's N&O article lists some key players but leaves an important one out: our current Lt. Gov Bev Perdue. I am as concerned about her role in this series of events as I am the Ethics Commission for the following reasons:
- Cole & Perdue were in fact acting on their own best interests as for two years she misrepresented her financial statements and as a result, criminal charges could (or maybe should) be filed. How about IRS concerns? What conflicting votes did she oversee during that time that now would be called into question?
- As an "attorney", Cole should have known better than to review documents behind a closed door in an ethics office (unless he really needed to do it for Bev - should we take his word for it that he has told us everything that he did that day?)
- Did anyone apply political pressure on Edwards months after the fact to delete the notations. Could it have been Cole or Perdue that were trying to cover their footsteps during an election year?

Where there's smoke, there is often fire. This is just another example of corrupt and unethical practices by the democrats in Raleigh and a specific case where Bev Perdue is in the middle of it. The N&O should not stop now but get to the bottom of not just the Ethics Commission problem, but the Perdue angle as well. Do we want her to be our next Governor as it looks like we would get more of the same corrupt government in Raleigh? She's one of them!

Re: Questions raised about ethics-Role of Bev?

concerned53 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:35:33 -0400

The N&O article lists some key players but leaves an important one out: our current Lt. Gov Bev Perdue. I am as concerned about her role in this series of events as I am the Ethics Commission for the following reasons:
- Cole & Perdue were in fact acting on their own best interests as for two years she misrepresented her financial statements and as a result, criminal charges could (or maybe should) be filed. How about IRS concerns? What conflicting votes did she oversee during that time that now would be called into question?
- As an "attorney", Cole should have known better than to review documents behind a closed door in an ethics office (unless he really needed to it for Bev - should we take his word for it that he has told us everything that he did that day?)
- Did anyone apply political pressure on Edwards months after the fact to delete the notations. Could it have been Cole or Perdue that were trying to cover their footsteps during an election year?

Re: Questions raised about ethics at commission

Isaac136 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:47:41 -0400

Disturbing story.

Even with the best possible light on Newson's and Edwards' actions, the way this looks is bad, bad bad.

One of the functions of the Ethics Commission is to help public servants avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

This story will cause every person who has had an issue before this Ethics Commisison to wonder whether his or her concern was heard with political foxes in charge of the hen-house.

Re: Questions raised about ethics at commission

mickiep — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:57:17 -0400

One Party rule is not good for North Carolina; it encourages corruption.
Bev Purdue and her entrenched cronies will only offer more of the same
to the taxpayers of North Carolina.

Bev Perdue=Corruption Queen

Cdickson — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:41:22 -0400

This is part and parcel of the Jim Black/Marc Basnight/Easley/Phipps/Ballance/Perdue corruption machine. North Carolina needs a change. I'm starting to think there are going to be a lot of Obama/McCrory ballots cast.

Re: Merritt releases report on Nesbitt

FFC1304 — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:33:02 -0400

Do you people SEE how the democrackkks can simply manipulate the legislature to cover their a**es??? DONT YOU SEE IT??? CLEAR DELIBERATE
CORRUPTION ADMITTED!!!

Re: Merritt releases report on Nesbitt

FFC1304 — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:30:45 -0400

Those around Asheville seem to think that this car racin team and facilities arent owned wholly by Nesbitt's son. He has avoided direct questions from local radio shows, and is the ONLY WNC politician to consistently REFUSE to come on to LIVE RADIO Talk shows! Whats he scared of?

Is he N E X T ??? LOLololol

Re: Stock-car deal set off ethics feud

awbeal — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:02:17 -0400

Wouldn't two different agencies both doing the same job (trying to enforce the state's ethics law) qualify as duplicative, wasteful government spending? And who would be responsible for investigating wasteful government spending -- the State Auditor, perhaps?

Re: Stock-car deal set off ethics feud

FFC1304 — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:53:56 -0400

Many THANKS to Les Merritt for looking into a number of issues and cases...

He is probably the ONLY state gov. employee/official that can be trusted at this time.

It is not surprising that the democrackkk controlled legislature would seek to limit his investigations.

STRIVE to be SMARTER than a democrackkk!

Re: Auditor, commission feud

bellaparola — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:43:48 -0400

I am not on the same team with the poster below (will someone explain to me what "democrackkk" means other than that those who use it are self-identifying as rightwing lunatics, please?) but on this topic I agree.

We need as many agencies as necessary, from the FBI to the AG to the auditor, helping root out corruption or questionable activities at all levels of government. Turf-protection, especially among state agencies, is very annoying, and in this instance it is beyond unseemly.

Just a few months ago, the commission was struggling under its workload and the short timeframe it was given to be fully operational - now the director thinks no one else can look at these issues, many of which have the potential to be crimes, not just infractions. We, their employers, need all the help we can get keeping all of our public employees honest, and unfortunately that could one day include the commission itself. I don't ever forget the warning against absolute power. Whether that's what is sought here, I don't know, but I do know that no one can have the power of exclusive jurisdiction.

Re: Auditor, commission feud

bellaparola — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:16:35 -0400

Also, I would like to politely disagree with the contention that "By law, Merritt must disclose his findings to the public."

I believe the auditor operates much the same way you describe the commission: if the initial investigation reveals cause for an investigative audit, then the results of that audit must be published. But I have been aware over the years of several, at least three, auditor investigations that never saw the light of publication because, as far as I could tell in following the gossip, there was nothing found that justified a complete investigation and report.

If I am wrong, I would gladly be educated as to how it actually works, but my limited experience tells me the process is about the same in that respect.

Re: Auditor, commission feud

FFC1304 — Sat, 10 May 2008 07:33:16 -0400

Um, many times it DOES take 'other agencies' to uncover CORRUPTION emanating from ALL state depts, Perry. Be glad that Les Merritt is
filling the void of a manipulated 'ethics' commission, that has NO teeth!

And, STRIVE to be SMARTER than a democrackkk!

Re: Auditor: Moore, Perdue used state resources

CarltonH — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:48:48 -0500

Wow, corruption among the Democratic controlled government in NC. Who would've thought such a thing?