Beason's contract

Don Beason earned $5,250 a month lobbying for Catawba County.

The lobbyist, whose contract was suspended on Aug. 9, 2007, had worked for the county, advocating for their interests in the state legislature. The contract was also signed by the city of Hickory, which said it ended when the session was over.

According to a contract signed on Jan. 15, 2003, Beason asked for $5,000 a month and $400 in expenses a month. The rate was upped to $5,250 in December of 2006 with expenses of $500 a month.

However, Beason indicated that was discounted from a rate of $7,000 per month.

A spokesman for the county said that it had paid a total of $38,521 to Beason's company, The Capital Group, under the agreement. The city of Hickory will reimburse the county for half that amount.

Beason has been under an ethical cloud since disgraced former House Speaker Jim Black said in late July that the lobbyist once loaned him $500,000.